Distortion compensated imaging

ABSTRACT

Certain aspects can relate to responsive to the at least some input compensating information, imaging the at least the portion of the individual in a manner to limit at least some distorting effects of the at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature associated with the at least the portion of the individual at least partially by modifying a non-optical electromagnetic output from an imaging modality as applied to the at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature associated with the at least the portion of the individual. Certain aspects can relate to creating at least one conformal absence of a non-optical electromagnetic output to limit distortion to an imaging of an at least a portion of an individual resulting at least partially from at least one distorting feature associated with the at least the portion of the individual.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Certain aspects of this disclosure can relate to, but are not limitedto, distortion compensator(s), and associated mechanisms and/ortechniques.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of a distorting feature asassociated with (e.g., inserted within or otherwise associated with) anindividual that can distort an image taken by a distortion susceptibleimaging device;

FIG. 2 is an expanded view of the diagram of FIG. 1 as taken through theindividual;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a distortion compensatoras at least partially associated with the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s);

FIG. 4 is a diagram of another embodiment of the distorting feature;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an embodiment of the individual being imagedusing at least one distortion susceptible imaging device(s);

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the series of slices, or images, that can becaptured through the individual using the at least one distortionsusceptible imaging device(s) of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of an object such as an individual being imaged byanother embodiment of the at least one distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s);

FIG. 8 is a diagram of another object such as an individual being imagedby another embodiment of the at least one distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s);

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an embodiment of at least one distortingfeature(s) that can be imaged by the at least one distortion susceptibleimaging device(s);

FIG. 10 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a distortion compensationtechnique;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart of another embodiment of the distortioncompensation technique;

FIG. 12 is a diagram of another embodiment of the distortingcompensator;

FIG. 13 is a diagram of another embodiment of the distortingcompensator;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of one embodiment of an at least one opaque matterwhich may be configured as a microscopic cell, tissue, fluid, particle,bead, etc. that, by itself, can be imaged using at least one imagingmodality;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of a field including a number of the at least oneopaque matter, as described with respect to FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a diagram of the embodiment of opaque matter of FIG. 15 witha number of as the at least one distorting feature(s) interspersedwithin the image such as to cause a distortion of the imaging of theopaque matter;

FIG. 17 is a diagram of another embodiment of the distortioncompensator;

FIG. 18 (including FIGS. 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d, and/or 18 e) is a flowchart of another embodiment of a distortion reduction technique as canbe performed by the distortion compensator of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a diagram of another embodiment of the distortioncompensator;

FIG. 20 is a flow chart of another embodiment of a distortion reductiontechnique as can be performed by the distortion compensator of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a diagram of another embodiment of the distortioncompensator; and

FIG. 22 is a flow chart of another embodiment of a distortion reductiontechnique as can be performed by the distortion compensator of FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

At least certain portions of the text of this disclosure (e.g., claimsand/or detailed description and/or drawings as set forth herein) cansupport various different claim groupings and/or various differentapplications. Although, for sake of convenience and understanding, thedetailed description can include section headings that generally trackvarious different concepts associated with claims or general conceptscontained therein, and is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention as set forth by each particular claim. It is to be understoodthat support for the various applications or portions thereof therebycan appear throughout the text and/or drawings at one or more locations,irrespective of the section headings.

It is to be noted that distortion compensating systems and methods havebeen suggested as a basis for limiting distortion as resulting from adistorting feature. In that regard, see the subject matter of thefollowing commonly assigned related applications which are incorporatedherein by reference: U.S. Ser. No. unknown, filed 25 Oct. 2006, entitledDistorting Feature Compensating (incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety); as well as U.S. Ser. No. unknown, filed Nov. 9, 2006,entitled Input Compensating for Imaging Distortion (incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety).

1. CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF A DISTORTION COMPENSATOR

This disclosure describes a number of embodiments of, and a number ofapplications for, a distortion compensator 100. Certain embodiments ofthe distortion compensator 100 can limit distortion of imaging which canresult at least partially from, for example, a variety of embodiments ofan at least one distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104. Withinthis disclosure, the term “imaging” can include, but is not limited to,any type of imaging or image capturing, photographing, etc. Certainembodiments of the at least one distortion susceptible imaging device(s)104 may be configured as a variety of imaging, photographing, video,moving image, or other such mechanims, as described in this disclosurewith respect to FIG. 3 as well as at other locations throughout thisdisclosure. As such, certain embodiments of the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) 104, as well as certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator 100, can utilize a variety of computer, imager, non-opticalelectromagnetic, electronic, cell phone based, X-ray,electro-mechanical, mechanical mechanisms or imaging modalities and/orother techniques, mechanisms, or imaging modalities, as described inthis disclosure. Certain aspects of such non-optical electromagnetic,X-ray, or particle bombardment imaging techniques or imaging modalitiesare generally understood by those skilled in the particular respectiveimaging device technologies. A variety of distortion compensators canthereby at least partially rely on a variety of imaging modalities orimaging device(s), such as a variety of embodiments of the at least onedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 as described in thisdisclosure. Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can beapplied to medical imaging, research, analysis, etc. However, it isenvisioned that the concepts as described herein can be interpreteddepending on their context as described in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104or imaging modalities can include, but are not limited to; magneticresonance imaging (MRI), X-ray imaging (e.g., fluoroscopy), X-rayComputed Tomography (CT or CAT) scans, X-ray imaging, X-raybackscattering imaging, Photon Emission Tomography (PET) scans, SinglePhoton Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scans, as well as othernon-optical electromagnetic imaging, nuclear resonance imaging, and/orother combinations, modifications, and/or developments of these imagersor imaging modalities. Each of these embodiments of the distortionsusceptible imaging device(s) and their associated imaging modalities,as well as others, can suffer from various types and degrees of imagingdistortion(s) at least partially resulting from imaging the at least onedistorting feature(s) 102, as described in this disclosure. Within thisdisclosure, different embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 canlimit or reduce the amount or effects of the imaging distortionconsidering, at least in part, on the particular techniques,peculiarities, and/or processes associated with each particular imagingmodality. Certain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) 104 can also include other imaging mechanisms and/ortechniques whose images are susceptible to distortion based at least inpart on the distorting feature(s) 102.

Certain embodiments of the disclosure can include, but are not limitedto, depending upon context, obtaining at least some input compensatinginformation at least partially based on the distortion characterizingimaging information that when applied to an imaging modality used toobtain the at least one image information in a manner such as can beused to limit distortions to the at least one image informationresulting from the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature. The obtaining the at least some input compensating informationcan be, depending on context, based at least in part on the at least onerelative orientation of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature relative to the at least one image information.

Certain embodiments of the disclosure can include, but are not limitedto, depending upon context, obtaining at least some input compensatinginformation that is characterized, at least in part, by at least onerelative orientation of at least a portion of an at least one distortingfeature associated with an at least a portion of the individual.Additionally, responsive to the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature, the at least the portion of the individual can beimaged in a manner to limit at least some distorting effects of the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature associated withthe at least the portion of the individual at least partially bymodifying a non-optical electromagnetic output from an imaging modalityas applied to the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature associated with the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature.

Certain embodiments of the disclosure can include, but are not limitedto, depending upon context, creating at least one conformal absence of anon-optical electromagnetic output to limit distortion to an imaging ofan at least a portion of an individual resulting at least partially fromat least one distorting feature associated with the at least the portionof the individual. Certain embodiments of the non-opticalelectromagnetic output can include, but are not limited to, particlebombardment imaging such as X-ray, X-ray backscatter, etc. as describedin this disclosure; as well as MRI imaging. Within this disclosure, theterm “non-optical electromagnetic output” can indicte the non-opticalelectromagnetic radiation that is utilized by the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) 104 (i.e., the imaging modality) to effect imaging.Within this disclosure, the term “conformal absence” can mean dependingon context, but is not limited to, reducing the value of the non-opticalelectromagnetic output, such as to reduce distortion. It is notnecessary that the non-optical electromagnetic radiation is completelyeliminated, but within this disclosure the conformal absence can havethe effect of improving imaging by the imaging modality based on theparticulars or peculiarities of the imaging modality.

While the instructions can be characterized according to the orientationof each of the at least one distorting feature(s) 102, when compoundedor complex distorting feature(s) are provided such as can be stored inthe one or more distortion compensator libraries, the distortioncharacterizing information from each of the component distortingfeature(s) 102 has to be considered, as well as reduced by any overlapeffect. For compounded or complex distorting feature(s), the distortioncharacterizing information can be determined computationally orempirically as desired, and maintained in certain embodiments of the oneor more distortion compensator libraries as described in thisdisclosure.

The distortion characterizing information associated with each at leastone distorting feature(s) 102 can vary, for example. In general though,certain embodiments of the distortion characterizing information are atleast partially based on an orientation of the distorting feature(s).For example, certain embodiments of the at least one distortingfeature(s) can interface differently with non-optical electromagneticradiation (as could be characterized by the distortion characterizinginformation) in a manner that could vary based at least in part on theorientation of the distorting feature. Consider that certain distortingfeature(s) may distort non-optical electromagnetic radiation differentlydepending on the angle, position, surface characteristics, materialcharacteristics, etc. of the distorting feature(s). Certain embodimentsof the distortion compensator 100 can limit, or at least partiallycompensate, for the distortion using at least of a variety of techniquesas described in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of this disclosure can relate to, but is not limitedby, obtaining the at least some input compensating information that canbe characterized, at least in part, by at least one relative orientationof at least a portion of an at least one distorting feature associatedwith an at least a portion of an individual. In addition, responsive tothe at least some input compensating information, imaging a regioninternal to the individual in a manner to limit at least some distortingeffects of the at least one distorting feature associated with the atleast the portion of the individual at least partially by modifying anon-optical electromagnetic output from an imaging modality as appliedto the at least the portion of the at least one distorting featureassociated with the at least the portion of the individual.

Certain embodiments of the creating at least one conformal absence of anon-optical electromagnetic output (whose imaging modality may include,but is not limited to, MRI, X-ray, etc.) can limit distortion to animaging of an at least a portion of an individual resulting at leastpartially from at least one distorting feature associated with the atleast the portion of the individual. As such, the particular imagingmodality can reduce the non-optical electromagnetic output that can beapplied to the at least one distorting feature(s) 102.

Within this disclosure, the input compensating information (which can beapplied to at least a portion of an individual associated with the atleast one distorting feature during imaging) can include, but is notlimited to, depending on context, one or more information, one or moresignal, one or more field, or one or more other entity (or combination,modification, or alteration of) which can be applied to the individualas at least a portion of the imaging modality. As such, certainembodiments of the input compensating information can be considered tomodify or otherwise alter the imaging modality input information, one ormore imaging modality input signal, one or more imaging modality inputfield, or one or more other imaging modality input entity (orcombination, modification, or alteration of such as may be used by theconventional imaging modality in the process of imaging), such as tocompensate for the imaging distortions at least partially from the atleast one distorting feature(s) 102 as described in this disclosure.Certain embodiments of the input compensating information may utilizenon-optical electromagnetic, particle bombardment imaging techniques asdescribed in this disclosure, or utilize other imaging modalities orcombination thereof as described in this disclosure.

The distortions that are limited in the at least one image informationat least partially by the obtaining at least some input compensatinginformation can include, but are not limited to, distortions by the atleast one distorting feature(s) 102 blocking the non-opticalelectromagnetic radiation of the image information during imaging. Suchdistortions can also include artifacts, such as may exist when thenon-optical electromagnetic radiation is deflected or diverted aroundthe at least one distorting feature(s). Such artifacts may effectivelydegrade, or at least greatly limit, imaging of not only the region ofthe at least one distorting feature(s) 102, but a considerable spaceabout the at least one distorting feature(s) 102 itself. The particularsabout the distortion that can result from particular distortingfeature(s), as well as artifacts, may likely vary depending at least inpart on the particular imaging modality as well as the particulardistorting feature.

There is often considerable information which may be desired to beobtained from such regions around the at least one distorting feature(s)102, as well as the region of the artifacts. For example, followinginsertion of certain distorting feature(s) such as an implant, or even acomplex structure, within the individual, it would be desired to ensurethat the at least one distorting feature(s) is configured or arranged asdesired.

A variety of embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s)104, as well as their at least partially utilized imaging modalities,are described in this disclosure. It is to be understood that certainones of the embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s)104 and/or the imaging modalities as described in this disclosure can beillustrative in nature but not limiting in scope, depending upon theparticular context.

Certain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104can include MRI as the imaging modality, whose operation involves anapplication of non-optical electromagnetic radiation (in particular amagnetic field) to an imaged region of the individual. Within thisdisclosure, depending on context, certain embodiments of the individualcan include, but are not limited to, at least one person, animal, ororganism that can be imaged. Certain embodiments of the organism thatcan be imaged may be situated in a host animal (e.g., human) in-vivo orotherwise, or alternately may be imaged by itself or in a group.

MRI is based on the principles of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR),which in general can be considered as a spectroscopic technique such ascan be utilized to obtain microscopic chemical and physical informationabout molecules. Certain MRI embodiments of the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) 104 can typically involve generation of images in theform of one or more (typically multiple successive) planar imagingslice(s). Certain commercially available MRI embodiments of the imagerscan be relatively large, expensive, and are made commercially availablefrom such companies as GE, Toshiba, or Siemens. MRI is recognized asbeing able to image optically opaque material such as soft tissue, suchas muscle, fat, cells (biological, blood, as well as others), etc. aspresent in humans and animals (as well as to some degree certain hardermaterials). Smaller embodiments of the MRIs can be provided to scansmaller regions of the individual, or other object.

Certain embodiments of the MRI imagers can generally include a staticfield magnet and a set of gradient magnets (not shown, but generallyunderstood by those skilled in the art). The static field magnet cangenerate a magnetic field that may be sufficient to precess spin in atleast some of the atoms of the individual. The gradient magnets are eachrespectively arranged along at least one of the three orthogonal axes(not shown one for each axis), such as when combined being able tocreate a multi-dimensional controllable gradient within the MRI. Suchmulti-dimensional gradients can be varied and/or modified. In certaininstances, such variation and/or modification of the multi-dimensionalgradients can be utilized to effect the at least some input compensatinginformation, as described in this disclosure.

In certain instances, the static field magnet can thereby be sufficientto precess spin vectors of certain atomic nuclei within the individualor other object, thereby causing the spin to precess relative to thestatic axis as provided by the static field magnet. The relaxation ofthe atoms (in the object undergoing MRI such as the individual) can beutilized by the MRI during imaging. The imaging can vary depending onthe material being imaged as well as the imaging modality. Relaxationtimes of the atomic nuclei can be useful in determining signal strengthfrom the MRI. Ferromagnetic materials, for instance, may cause a greaterdistortion under MRI than certain other materials, and as such certainmaterials and/or surface characteristics may be relevant in determiningcharacteristics of the at least one distorting feature.

The gradient magnets can thereupon provide a gradient magnetic field,which is thereupon superimposed on the static magnetic field. Relativelysmall gradients in the magnetic field can be superimposed on the staticmagnetic field. Certain embodiments of the magnetic resonance signalscan be superimposed from different portions of the individual, such thatthe magnetic resonance signals can vary in phase and/or frequency. Suchaspect of the signals can be used by certain embodiments of thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 to provide the imaginginformation.

Of the embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104and their associated imaging modalities, the MRI can involve applying amagnetic field to the individual using a first (powerful, typicallysuperconductive) magnet 520, with the individual being scanned by an MRIscanner while in the field. As such, certain conventional MRI scanner(as generally understood in the medical imaging area and madecommercially available) can thereby include the series of gradientmagnets generating a variable non-optical electromagnetic field. Forexample, a superconducting magnet can generate a typically strong,static magnetic field through the imaged field of the individual, andthe magnetic field generated by the superconducting magnet can bemodified using the gradient magnets).

Such modification of the magnetic field as may be performed at leastpartially for the purpose of limiting distortion of the MRI imaging bythe distortion susceptible imaging device(s), and may be considered asone embodiment of the providing, or obtaining, at least some inputcompensating information as described with respect to this disclosure.Larger embodiments of the MRI can be used to image a complete person orother individual (or at least a large portion thereof), while smallerembodiments of MRIs are commercially available which can be used toimage a smaller portion of the individual person or animal, or alsolikely certain organisms or other animals. The smaller embodiments ofthe MRI typically have a smaller bore than the larger embodiments of theMRI, and thereby often allow for more precisely controllable imaging ofthe individual.

MRIs generally image along a series of substantially planar slices 108,as described in this disclosure with respect to FIG. 6. Eachsubstantially planar slice is conventionally parallel to, but displacedfrom each adjacent substantially planar slice. Certain embodiments ofthe imaging as produced by the imaging device (e.g., the slices of MRI)may become distorted when a disruptive magnetic (or certain othernon-optical electromagnetic) or X-ray field, current, voltage, etc. areapplied or present in the vicinity of the imaging region. Certainembodiments of the disruptive non-optical electromagnetic field may beprovided by certain embodiments of the at least one distorting feature102. In certain instances, the substantially planar slices 108 of MRIupon becoming distorted can image along non-planar paths. If the imagesbecome distorted, the usefulness of the images, data, and/or otherinformation obtained during the imaging such as MRI scanning can becomeless useful and/or reliable. By modifying the magnetic field in certainways during imaging of the at least one distorting feature(s) 102 suchas may provide the distortion, in certain instances theoriginally-planar, but perhaps distorted slices, as understood in MRItechnology can be returned to a more planar configuration using certainembodiments of the distortion compensator, as described in thisdisclosure.

For example, if the original magnetic field gradient is distorted from Bto B′, then an additional, or complementary field whose geometry is B″can be applied through an array of adjustable magnetic coils. Thecomplementary field B″ complements the field B′ to produce a compositefield approximating the original field B. Note that B″ may not exactlynumerically equal B-B′, since B″ itself may be distorted by thedistorting feature. The solver can take into account the effects of thedistorting feature when calculating B″.

Solving for the magnetic field to be generated by each coil can be doneeither empirically, by testing the device before it is implanted in thebody, or by forward-modeling of the magnetic distortion due frominformation about the device from the distortion compensator library 776that may be configured as the electronic library or database that canmaintain information about that device. In cases where the field B″ cannot be perfectly constructed by adjusting independent control elements,the adjustable magnetic coils can produce the complementary fields toapproximate the original field B, using error reduction techniques (suchas minimizing the volume-integrated magnetic field energy of the errorusing least-squares methods). Such error reduction techniques aredescribed in more detail in this disclosure.

While the embodiment of the MRI imaging as described with respect toFIG. 6 can be performed over a large portion of the body of certainindividuals such as humans or relatively large animals, smaller imagerssuch as MRI can image smaller regions or portions of the body of largeranimals or humans, or alternatively organisms, and typically might besmaller.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can utilizecertain techniques alone or in combination. For example, the Maxwellsolver technique as described herein can be utilized in combination withother distortion compensating techniques as described in thisdisclosure, or the other distortion compensation disclosures aspreviously incorporated by reference.

Certain embodiments of medical imaging devices, such as MagneticResonance Imagers (MRI), can be utilized with certain embodiments of thedistortion compensator 100 as described in this disclosure. Certainembodiments of the MRI device can include a main field coil thatgenerates a large homogeneous magnetic field B₀ directed along theprincipal axis of the device (denoted the z-axis). For imaging purposes,the device further comprises three gradient coils that generate magneticfields having z-components G_(x)x, G_(y)y, and G_(z)z. In the vicinityof a distorting feature, the total magnetic field is

B _(z)(x,y,z,t)=B ₀ +G _(x)(t)x+G _(y)(t)y+G _(z)(t)z+B ₁(x,y,z)  (1)

where B₁ is the magnetic field of the distorting feature. For a givendistorting feature, the distorting field B₁ can be determined by solvingthe following Maxwell equations of magnetostatics:

∀·B=0,∀×H=0  (2)

Considering the boundary conditions that characterize the geometry andorientation of the distorting feature, as well as a constitutiverelation B=F[H] that characterizes the material properties of thedistorting feature. For example, a paramagnetic or diamagnetic materialtypically exhibits the constitutive relation B=μH, where μ is themagnetic permeability. Numerous methods of solving such magnetostaticboundary-value problems are known, such as described in J. D. Jackson,Classical Electrodynamics, Third Edition; these methods include therelaxation or finite difference method, series expansion in orthogonalfunctions, and finite element analysis (FEA).

Considering the process of imaging a region in the vicinity of thedistorting feature. As an illustrative example, consider an illustrative2D Fourier transform imaging process, wherein the z-gradient coil can beused for slice selection. In the absence of the distorting feature, π/2RF pulse with central angular frequency ω would excite the spins in aslice z=z≡(ω₁−ω₀)/γG_(z), where γ is the spin gyromagnetic ratio andω₀=γB₀ is the mains field Larmor frequency. In the presence of thedistorting feature, however, the actual spins that are excited are thosealong the surface {tilde over (z)}=z₁, where

$\begin{matrix}{{\overset{\sim}{z}\left( {x,y,z} \right)} = {z + \frac{B_{1}\left( {x,y,z} \right)}{G_{z}}}} & (3)\end{matrix}$

is the distorted z coordinate in the presence of the distorting fieldB₁. In the illustrative example, after the slice selection, x- andy-gradient fields are applied to accomplish the 2D Fourier transformimaging of the selected slice. The signal received at the RF coil attime t is given by

s(t)=∫dxdydzρ(x,y,z)δ({tilde over (z)}−z ₁)exp[i(k _(x)(t)x+(t)y+γB₁(x,y,z)t)]  (4)

In this equation, ρ(x, y, z) is the spin density function (which candepend on the local proton density, relaxation times T1 and T2, and RFcoil sensitivity), δ({tilde over (z)}−z₁) accounts for the sliceselection, and the phase gradients can be:

k _(x)(t)=∫₀ ¹ γG _(x)(t′)dt′,k _(y)(t)=∫₀ ¹ γG _(y)(t′)dt′.  (5)

Further suppose, for the illustrative example, that the y-gradient fieldis applied for phase encoding prior to readout, and the x-gradient fieldis applied during readout. Then during readout, the phase gradients canbe:

k _(x)(t)=γG _(x) t,k _(y)(t)=k _(y0).  (6)

Introducing distorted x and y coordinates

$\begin{matrix}{{{\overset{\sim}{x}\left( {x,y,z} \right)} = {x + \frac{B_{1}\left( {x,y,z} \right)}{G_{z}}}},{\overset{\sim}{y} = y},} & (7)\end{matrix}$

equation (4) then becomes

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{{s(t)} = {\int_{\;}^{\;}{{x}{y}{z}\; {\rho \left( {x,y,z} \right)}{\delta \left( {\overset{\sim}{z} - z_{1}} \right)}{\exp \left\lbrack {\left( {{\gamma \; G_{x}t\overset{\sim}{x}} + {k_{\gamma \; 0}\overset{\sim}{y}}} \right)} \right\rbrack}}}} \\{= {\int_{\;}^{\;}{{\overset{\sim}{x}}{\overset{\sim}{y}}{\overset{\sim}{z}}\; {\rho \left\lbrack {{x\left( {\overset{\sim}{x},\overset{\sim}{y},\overset{\sim}{z}} \right)},{y\left( {\overset{\sim}{x},\overset{\sim}{y},\overset{\sim}{z}} \right)},{z\left( {\overset{\sim}{x},\overset{\sim}{y},\overset{\sim}{z}} \right)}} \right\rbrack} \times}}} \\{{\left\lbrack {J\left( {\overset{\sim}{x},\overset{\sim}{y},\overset{\sim}{z}} \right)} \right\rbrack^{- 1}{\delta \left( {\overset{\sim}{z} - z_{1}} \right)}{\exp \left\lbrack {\left( {{\gamma \; G_{z}t\overset{\sim}{x}} + {k_{\gamma \; 0}\overset{\sim}{y}}} \right)} \right\rbrack}}}\end{matrix} & (8)\end{matrix}$

where J is the Jacobian of the coordinate transformation in the secondintegral, given by

$\begin{matrix}{{J\left( {\overset{\sim}{x},\overset{\sim}{y},\overset{\sim}{z}} \right)} = {1 + {\frac{1}{G_{x}}\frac{\partial{B_{1}\left( {x,y,z} \right)}}{\partial x}} + {\frac{1}{G_{z}}\frac{\partial{B_{1}\left( {x,y,z} \right)}}{\partial z}}}} & (9)\end{matrix}$

The readout signal s(t) is therefore a 2D Fourier transform (withFourier components (k_(x),k_(y))=(γG_(x)t,k_(y0))) of the distortedimage

{tilde over (ρ)}({tilde over (x)},{tilde over (y)},{tilde over(z)})=ρ(x,y,z)/J({tilde over (x)},{tilde over (y)},{tilde over(z)}).  (10)

It can be seen that there are two aspects to the distortion: theapparent position of an image voxel is shifted to distorted coordinates({tilde over (x)},{tilde over (y)},{tilde over (z)}) according toequations (3) and (7), and the apparent intensity of the image voxel ismodified according to equations (9) and (10). For a known distortionfield: B₁(x, y, z), e.g. as computed by a finite element analysis, boththe position and intensity can be compensated. In certain instances,such compensation can be nearly exact, but in other instances variousmetrics such as least squared metrics can be used to limit the remainingdistortion after the compensation as much as practicable. Certainembodiments of the compensation can be performed at least partially byadjusting the current in various “shimming” magnetic circuit elements,in a similar manner is done to correct Nuclear Magnetic Resonsance (NMR)signals in non-imaging applications of NMR, to improve field homogeneityfor a given poorly calibrated magnet.

MRI can also suffer from such distortions as when a number of magneticfields or magnetic flux lines converge, and/or when they are forced tobend such as when they flow around such objects as a ferromagneticimplant. Such distortions can result at least partially based onmaterial(s), surface feature and/or shape(s) of the at least onedistorting feature 102. Certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator 100, as described in this disclosure, can limit and/orreduce distortion of certain embodiments of the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) 104 such as MRI.

Other imaging modalities can be utilized as certain embodiments of thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104, as described in thisdisclosure. Certain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) 104 and their associated imaging modalities (such as CAT scan,X-ray imaging, X-ray backscattering imaging, PET scan, certain othertomographical imaging, certain other non-optical electromagnetic imagingmodalities, and certain other imaging modalities) are further referencedand described in this disclosure as “particle bombardment imagingtechniques”. Conventional CAT scans may be used to supplement otherx-rays imaging and medical ultrasound imaging for a variety ofapplications including, but not limited to: cranial imaging, chestimaging, cardiac imaging, imaging of the abdomen, etc.

Certain embodiments of the particle bombardment imaging technique can,depending on context, utilize particles that pass through at least animaged portion (e.g., of the individual) to at least partially effectimaging. Such modification of the path of travel of the particles insuch particle bombardment imaging techniques can represent oneembodiment of modifying the at least some input compensatinginformation, as described in this disclosure. Certain embodiments ofsuch particle bombardment imaging techniques may therefore involvebombarding the imaged area with particles, such as X-rays, gamma rays,photons, etc. depending upon the particular imaging modality. Certainembodiments of the imaging particles utilized in certain embodiments ofthe particle bombardment imaging techniques may be at least partiallygenerated from within the individual such as a person or animal, such aswith the insertion of a catheter, scope, or other mechanism. Certaintypes of contrast agents can be applied to certain embodiments of theparticle bombardment imaging to enhance the imaging. For example certaincontrast agents can be injected into the individual patient and then thepatient can be imaged illustrating intravenous regions, regions of bloodin tissues, etc. Certain embodiments of the imaging particles can beutilized in certain embodiments of the particle bombardment imagingtechniques may be at least partially applied from outside of theindividual human, animal, or organism, such as by the application ofx-rays or other particles through the individual patient.

FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) 104 utilizing one embodiment of an X-ray imaging device 550.Consider, for example, the X-ray imaging device 550 impartingnon-optical electromagnetic radiation 554 to an object 552 such as theindividual, including at least one embodiment of the at least onedistorting feature(s) 102. As the non-optical electromagnetic radiation554 passes the individual or object 552, some of the electromagneticradiation will be deflected and/or distorted. Certain embodiments of theX-ray imaging device 550 as described with respect to FIG. 7 may becharacterized as an embodiment of the particle bombardment imagingtechnique as described in this disclosure. Such distortion could beillustrated by representative amounts of non-optical electromagneticradiation received on a detector 560 of the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) 104, illustrated as 562 as a solid line without theeffects of distortion, and at 564 (in hidden lines), only showing thoseportions with the effects of the distortion. As a result of thedistortion to the particle bombardment imaging techniques, the image mayappear “fuzzy”, or with relatively little contrast. The edges of theimage will therefore lack sharpness. As such, certain embodiments of thedistortion compensator is configured to limit such fuzziness or improveclarity of imaging in certain embodiments of the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) 104.

Such modification of the particle field as may be performed at leastpartially for the purpose of limiting distortion of the imaging usingparticle bombardment imaging techniques (e.g., X-ray or other imagingmodalities) by the distortion susceptible imaging device(s), and may beconsidered as one embodiment of applying the at least some inputcompensating information to modify imaging as described with respect tothis disclosure. By modifying the particle field in certain ways duringimaging of the at least one distorting feature(s) 102 such as mayprovide the distortion, in certain instances the originally-sharp, butnow distorted image such as may appear more fuzzy, as understood inparticle bombardment imaging techniques (e.g., X-ray or other imagingmodalities) can be returned to cause less deflection of the imagingparticles (such as X-rays) configuration using certain embodiments ofthe distortion compensator, as described in this disclosure.

Distortions of certain embodiments of the particle bombardment imagingtechnique can involve the path of the particles being modified, altered,or distorted as they are applied to the at least one distortingfeature(s) 102 within the individual (human, animal, or organism). Incertain bombardment imaging techniques, such as X-ray, the distortioncan result in the distorted image being made more fuzzy, blurry, orotherwise distorted in the region of the distortion. Such distortion cantypically result from an obstruction, deflection, or other irregulartransmission of the particle (e.g., photon) used by the imaging modalitythrough certain material(s) of the at least one distorting feature(s)102 being imaged. Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator,that can be configured to compensate for at least some of thedistortions resulting at least in part from particle bombardment imagingtechniques; can thereby be limiting distortion, also act to limit thefuzziness of the image, or inversely increase the sharpness of theimaging.

As such, the varied embodiments of the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) 104 (whether involving the particle bombardment imagingtechniques or the MRI imaging techniques, or other modified, altered,combined, or developed imaging modalities) each can involve distortionsto the particular imaging modalities resulting at least in part from theat least a portion of an at least one distorting feature 102. Certainembodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 canthereby utilize certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100such as to limit distortion of the imaging based at least in part on thetechnology and/or techniques of the particular imaging modalities. Theparticular embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s)104, the distortion compensator 100, and/or the imaging modalities, etc.as described in this disclosure are intended to be illustrative innature but not limiting in scope.

A number of embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s)104 are thereby described, and intended to be protected, as limited bythe scope of at least one of the claims of this disclosure. FIG. 1, forexample, illustrates certain embodiments of the at least a portion of anat least one distorting feature 102, that can be associated with anindividual (e.g., human, animal, plant, or living or synthetic organism)as described with respect to this disclosure. Certain embodiments of theat least one distorting feature can include, but are not limited to: oneor more implant(s), one or more bone(s), one or more bone fragment(s),one or more fluid(s) (e.g., blood), as well as other naturally-occurringand/or man-made objects, and/or a combination thereof. Within thisdisclosure, the applicable embodiments of the at least one distortingfeature 102 is envisioned to be similarly broad to apply to virtuallyany imaging technique as applied to at least one distorting feature 102in the individual (human, animal, or organism), unless otherwise limitedeither expressly in the text, or limited by some technical logicalinconsistency for any particular technique or technology. At leastcertain portions of certain embodiments of the at least the portion ofthe at least one distorting feature 102 can be associated with at leasta portion of the body of the individual (human, animal, or organism)103, which can upon imaging at least portions of the individual, distortthe images taken by the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104.Certain components of the imaging device(s) 104 is described withrespect to FIG. 3.

This disclosure therefore provides a variety of embodiments ofmechanisms which can determine, or “predict”, a type of distortion thatcertain embodiments of the at least one distorting feature(s) 102 canproduce. The distortion of certain embodiments of the at least onedistorting feature(s) 102 can be characterized according to theirorientation according to at least some distortion characterizing imaginginformation or the input compensating information, as described in thisdisclosure depending on context. Certain embodiments of the distortioncharacterizing imaging information or the input compensating informationcan include depending on context, but is not limited to, data, images,graphical information, textual information, or any other informationthat can characterize distortion produced by the at least one distortingfeature(s) 102 based at least in part on the orientation of thedistorting feature(s). While it may be convenient to maintain at leastsome of the distortion characterizing imaging information and/or theinput compensating information in a database, or a distortioncompensator library 776 that may be configured as an electronic library(which may take the form of a flash drive as well as other memorydevices) in a form that may allow the distortion characterizing imaginginformation or the input compensating information to be recalled upondemand and/or utilized by a processor, computer, or controller (such asmay be included in certain embodiments of the distortion compensatingcontroller 97, as described with respect to FIG. 3 and elsewhere in thisdisclosure), other configurations and systems may be utilized tomaintain or recall the distortion characterizing image informationand/or the input compensating information. During imaging or otherprocessing, certain embodiments and/or forms of the distortioncharacterizing imaging information and/or the input compensatinginformation can have their distortion compensated using computational orother techniques as described in this disclosure.

One illustrative but non-limiting example of an at least one distortingfeature(s) that can be associated with, and characterized by, at leastsome distortion characterizing imaging information and/or the inputcompensating information can include, for example, a knee replacement750. One embodiment of the knee replacement 750 is described withrespect to FIG. 9, and can include but is not limited to a patellarcomponent (not shown but associated with the remaining components in anunderstood manner by those skilled in the medical or surgical areas), afemoral component 754, a mobile bearing 756, and a tibial tray 758.Certain embodiments of the patellar component can be attached to anumber of muscles, whose contraction by the person may act to straightenthe knee. Certain embodiments of the femoral component 754 can beattached to the femur (with the portion shown in dotted lines), and canbe displaced therewith. Certain embodiments of the tibial tray 758 canbe attached to the tibia (with the portion shown in dotted lines), andcan be displaced therewith. Certain embodiments of the mobile bearing756 can allow for a “bearing” type motion between the femoral component754 and the tibial tray 758. Certain embodiments of the mobile bearing756 and the femoral component 754 can, together, provide a “floating”support for the patellar component. An assembled image of the kneereplacement 750 is illustrated in FIG. 9.

The knee replacement 750 represents an example of an embodiment of theat least one distorting feature(s) 102 that can be characterizedaccording to its orientation. Consider, for example, as the knee of theindividual (human or animal) flexes or contracts, the relative positionof at least certain of the components, 754, 756, and/or 758 will shiftand relatively displace. Such shifting and displacement can vary thedistortion characterizing imaging information as taken from variousangles, particularly the side. Certain embodiments of the inputcompensating information can thereupon be utilized to derive or create amodel of non-optical electromagnetic radiation, or other input signals,fields, etc. that could be applied by the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) such as to limit distortions of the imaging process. The kneereplacement may be considered as an example of a relatively compleximplant since it has a number of elements and a number of irregularshapes, curves, etc.

Additionally, such abnormally-shaped embodiments of the at least onedistorting feature(s) 102 as the knee replacement, bones, etc. willchange as when being imaged from different positions or angles, such asfrom the front or side. As such, certain embodiments of the distortioncharacterizing imaging information and/or the input compensatinginformation can vary depending on the angle of the observer. Certainembodiments of the distortion characterizing imaging information and/orthe input compensating information can thereby be stored in a tabularmanner, such that the type of distortion can be characterized for aparticular one of at least one distorting feature(s) 102 according tothe relative location of each distorting feature, as well as the angleat which the at least one distorting feature(s) 102 such as the kneereplacement can be observed.

As such, the at least some input compensating information in aparticular manner depending upon the particular imaging modality may beused to modify the imaging (such as may be based on obtaining the atleast one image information), such as to limit the amount of distortionsas a result of imaging the individual associated with the at least onedistorting feature(s). Such modification of the imaging modality as canat least be partially caused as a result of the input compensatinginformation may be based, at least in part, on an operation of thecertain embodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 3, 12, and/or 13 as described in thisdisclosure, and also by certain ones of the flow charts as included inthis disclosure.

In certain instances where a human or animal patient is being imaged bycertain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104,the at least one distorting feature(s) can be “positioned” or“orientated” such as by positioning the body part or at least onedistorting feature(s) 102 at a known angle (e.g., by bending theillustrative knee at a prescribed or measurable angle). The resultingorientation of the distorting feature(s) 102 can thereupon be input intothe distortion compensator 100 (such as the distortion compensatorlibrary 776 that may be configured as the electronic library, ordatabase), and the corresponding distorting characterizing imaginginformation and/or input compensating information can be returned,therefore allowing for modification to the imaging modality, such as maybe utilized to limit distortion by the particular imaging modality. Assuch, such distortions can be subtracted, filtered, or filtered out whengenerating the at least some input compensating information as describedin this disclosure using certain embodiments of time domain/frequencydomain transforms such as Fourier Tranforms, Fast Fourier Transforms,etc. Such filtering, filtering out, or computationally modified usingcertain embodiments of the at least some input compensating information;or at least partially limit such distortions as can be characterized ascertain embodiments of distortion compensation, input field modifying,or computationally limiting the distortions at least partially as aresult of the input compensating information.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can thereby beassociated with certain embodiments of the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) 104. Certain embodiments of the distortion compensatorlibrary 776 that may be configured as the electronic library or thedatabase can be used to generate a variety of the input compensatinginformation, as described in this disclosure, which can limit distortionby modifying input being applied to the individual at least partially bythe imaging modality. Certain embodiments of the distortion compensatorcan thereby be configured to provide feedback using the inputcompensating information, such as to vary non-optical electromagneticradiation such as MRI or X-ray, etc. that can be applied during imagingof the at least one distorting feature(s). For example, the embodimentsof the non-optical electromagnetic radiation such as MRI fields or X-rayparticles as described in this disclosure can be reshaped, modified,shielded, redirected, steered, and/or otherwise changed in a marinerthat can reduce imaging distortions of the at least portion of theindividual (e.g., human, animal, plant, or organism) associated with thedistorting feature(s); which is being imaged at least partially by theimaging modality of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104.

Consider that in a number of instances, such distorting features asimplants, spinal fusions, etc. may represent certain areas that areparticularly desirable and important to image, and yet these areas thatmay be largely distorted during imaging by certain embodiments of thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104.

Certain embodiments of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature, shown with respect to FIG. 1 and also shown inexpanded view in FIG. 2, can at least partially provide a variety ofimaging distortions of imaging by certain embodiments of the distortionsusceptible imaging device(s) 104 within and/or associated with thepotentially distorted region 140. Such distortion of the imaging withinthe potentially distorted region 140 of the individual (human, animal,or organism) can be moderate or severe, such as to limit what aphysician or trained person can detect as to the state or condition ofthe individual utilizing certain embodiments of the distortionsusceptible imaging device(s) 104.

Certain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104can utilize a variety of imaging and/or signal processing technologythat can include, but is not limited to, computer-based, electronic,automated and/or quasi-automatically recognize the state or condition ofthe individual (human, animal, or organism). Such distortions can limitsuch recognition of the state or condition of the individual usingconventional imaging techniques, and can limit the usefulness of imagingtechnology considerably. For example, it might be very useful to imageor consider a variety of implants in their position as applied orinserted following an operation or procedure on the individual (human,animal, or organism). After an implant such as a spinal plate or pin,knee joint, bone pin, etc. has been installed in a patient (human oranimal), it would therefore be useful to determine positions of certainportions of the implant or other body portion, consider interfacesbetween the implant and the individual (human or animal), etc. Inaddition, after the implant has been inserted, and perhaps after certaininterval(s), it might be desirable to consider the position, wear, orother condition of the implant. Unfortunately, such information as couldbe obtained from the images and/or other image information as thecondition or position of the implant, wear of the implant, interfacesbetween the implant, bones, tissue, etc. (as well as similar informationrelating to other embodiments of the at least one imaging feature(s))can often be degraded, distorted, or made less revealing as a result ofthe imaging distortions of the at least one distorting feature(s) by thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104. Certain embodiments of thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 can limit such distortion,and thereby improve the effectiveness and utility of certaincomputer-based, electronic, automated and/or quasi-automatic recognitionembodiments of the imaging.

Certain distortion resulting from certain distorting feature(s) can besufficient, under certain circumstances without compensation, as toocclude or hide certain portions of the individual 103 (human, animal,or organism) that is being imaged by the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) 104. Considering the operational expenses associated withcertain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104,any increase in utility resulting at least partially from a decrease indistortion of the imaging may be highly desirable.

Certain embodiments of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 such as can provide can thereby be situatedwithin and/or associated with a region of, or associated with, theindividual (human, animal, or organism) being imaged. In certaininstances, the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 can be considered at least a portion of an area beingimaged. For instance, after the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 is at least partially positioned relative to theindividual (human, animal, or organism), it may be desired to image theindividual including the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 to determine how well it may be secured orpositioned relative to the individual. It may be desirable to view theat least the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102, such asat least one insert, at least one bone, at least one screw, at least onefastener, at least one connector, at least one pin, at least onefastener, at least one brace, at least one plate, and/or at least oneother man-made or naturally occurring object) within and/or associatedwith the individual (human, animal, or organism). As described in thisdisclosure, certain embodiments of the distorting feature(s) may tend todistort imaging of the nearby region such as to limit such imagingcapabilities by the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104.

In addition, it may also be desirable to limit imaging of a part orsegment of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 during an imaging procedure, and to image or visualizeanother part of the distorting feature 102. For example, consider ascrew installed in a portion of the individual (human or animal), suchas a patient's spine. With certain imaging techniques using certainembodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104, such asbut not limited to: MRI, CT, SPECT, PET, X-ray, X-ray backscatter, etc.,those portions of the distorting feature 102 that within or adjacent tothe bone may not image as well as those portions that are outside of thebone. In certain instances, a clinicians or operator of certainembodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) may specifythose portions of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 (as well as its orientation, position, etc.) thatis associated with a bone, an insert, or other distorting feature 102.By specifying which of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 that can be computationally ignored or limitedsince they are hidden, and will therefore not cause as much of adistortion; it can thereby be determined which parts of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102 can be leftsubstantially the same as imaged, as compared to which can be enhanced.Certain embodiments of the compensation method described in this patentcan actively emphasize the information of greatest interest to theobserver without having to worry about distorting resulting from certaindistorting feature(s).

Certain imaging modalities may experience greater distortion to certaindistorting feature(s) than others. For instance, MRI suffersconsiderable distortion to ferromagnetic material. As such, certainimaging modalities that do not suffer the same distortion to certainmaterials may be used to determine a characteristic shape, position,etc. to at least partially derive the at least some input compensatinginformation. For instance, X-ray may be used to image ferromagneticdistorting feature(s) to determine the general shape of the distortingfeature, thereupon certain embodiments of the distortion compensator canbe used to alter the applied non-optical electromagnetic radiation asapplied to the at least the portion of the individual to at leastpartially limit the effects of the distortion. Perhaps multipledistorting compensator techniques, as described in this disclosure aswell as the above-incorporated patent applications, may be utilized incombination to improve certain aspects of the distortion compensation.

There can thereby be a variety of embodiments of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102 that can be imaged bythe distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104. A list of certain onesof the at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102that can cause distortions to imaging itself and/or other associatedmaterial can include, but is not limited to, at least one electronicimplant or deyice, at least one magnetically-actuated implant or device,at least one cardiac pacemaker, at least one implanted cardioverterdefibrillator (ICD), at least one aneurysm clip, at least oneneurostimulation system, at least one spinal cord stimulator, at leastone internal electrode, device, and/or wire(s), at least one bone growthor bone fusion stimulator, at least one cochlear, otologic, or other earimplant, at least some insulin or an infusion pump, at least oneimplanted drug infusion device, any type of prosthesis (e.g., eye,penile, etc.), at least one heart valve prosthesis, at least one eyelidspring or wire, at least one artificial or prosthetic limb, at least onemetallic stent, filter, or coil, at least one shunt (spinal orintraventricular), at least one vascular access port and/or catheter, atleast one radiation seeds or implants, at least one Swan-Ganz or triplelumen catheter, at least one medication patch (nicotine, nitroglycerin),any metallic fragment or foreign body, at least one wire mesh implant,at least one tissue expander (e.g., breast), at least one surgicalstaple, clips, or metallic sutures, at least one joint replacement (hip,knee, etc.), at least one bone-joint, screw, nail, wire, plate, etc., atleast one IUD or diaphragm, at least one dental or partial plates, atleast one tattoo or permanent makeup, at least one body piercingjewelry, at least one hearing aid, at least one pair of eyeglasses,watches, etc., as well as naturally-occurring distorting feature 102such as bones, bone fragments, blood (e.g., particularly the hemoglobincan result in some imaging distortion), liquids, etc. Other similaritems could represent certain embodiments of the distorting feature(s).In general, to consider the distorting effects of certain embodiments ofthe distorting feature(s), the particular imaging modality is to beconsidered.

Virtually any item that may be inserted at least partially within,and/or otherwise associated with, an item which may be applied at leastpartially to, any item which may be positioned at least partiallyproximate to, or an item (e.g., naturally occurring or man-made) whichmay be otherwise at least partially associated with the individual 103such as to create a distortion may be considered an embodiment of the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102.

There can be a series or combination of techniques associated with thedistortion compensator 100 that can involve limited distortion toimaging provided by at least one distorting feature 102. Such series orcombination of processes as can be performed by the distortioncompensator 100 can be conducted in series, in combination, inalternative, etc. For example, certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator 100 can alter the operation of the imaging modality asapplied to the at least one distorting feature 102, such as to limitdistortion to the imaging. Certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator 100 can compensate for distortions of the imaging providedby the imaging modality following the imaging based, at least in part,on the at least one distorting feature 102 using signal processing,computer, controller, and/or other techniques. These two, and other,embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can be performed incombination, in the alternative, in series, etc. For example, theimaging modality can be altered such as to reshape a magnetic field tolimit distortions provided upon contact with the at least one distortingfeature such as to perhaps limit relatively larger scale distortions.With such larger scale distortions removed, certain computer processingtechniques can be applied to further reduce the effects of thedistortions to the imaging resulting at least in part from the at leastone distorting feature 102.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator can thereby limit theeffect of distortion to the imaging process following the imagingprocess. By comparison, certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator can alter input compensating information, which may includebut is not limited to the input field, signal, gradient, shielding,forming, etc. or other characteristics that can be used by the imagingmodality during imaging, such as to produce a more suitable input field,signal, gradient, shielding, forming, etc; and to thereby in effectreduce the distortion of the at least one distorting feature. As such,certain embodiments of the distortion compensator can utilize feedbackor other mechanisms, such as to provide altered compensatinginformation, and such as to decrease the distortion to the imagingresulting at least partially from the at least one distortingfeature(s). As such, certain embodiments of the distortion compensationcan thereby also be used to determine the input compensating informationsuch as fields, gradients, etc. that can be utilized by the particularimaging modality, which can thereby be provided to at least partiallylimit image effects of distortion. The particular type of inputcompensating information can be selected based at least in part on thetype of imaging device(s) or the imaging modality, as described in thisdisclosure. These two embodiments of the distortion compensator aredescribed in this disclosure at several locations in the alternative,and are intended to be illustrative in nature, and not limiting inscope.

There are a number of computer-processing techniques that can be used incertain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 to model thedistortions caused by the distorting feature(s) 102, as well as howcertain input compensating information may affect such distortions.Certain embodiments of the Maxwell solvers can utilize finite elementanalysis, and may represent one suitable modeling technique that may beapplied to certain distortion susceptible imaging device(s), as MRI. Itis to be understood that other modeling techniques such as are known bythose skilled in the modeling arts could also be utilized. Certainembodiments of Maxwell solvers can be utilized to determine what effectthe at least one distorting feature should have on distorting theimaging. This computed value of the at least some input compensatinginformation which can thereupon be computationally removed from theactual imaged region to indicate what the imaged region should appearlike without imaging, and thereby can be computationally subtracted outto limit the effect of distortions for such imaging modalities as MRI.As such, certain embodiments of the distortion compensator can deriveMRI-based input compensating information (based at least in part onMaxwell solvers, finite element analysis, or other such techniques) canbe used to derive what the input magnetic fields should appear like tolimit effects of the distortion.

Certain embodiments of computers, controllers, processors, etc. as canin included in certain embodiments of the distortion compensationcontroller 97, as described in this disclosure with respect to FIG. 3and at other locations, can be used to derive Maxwell solvers performthe Monte-Carlo analysis, perform finite element analysis, and/orperform other suitable madeling algorithms. The use of Maxwell solvers,Monte Carlo analysis, and/or finite element analysis, as applied to MRI,is intended to be illustrative in nature but not limiting in scope sinceother field estimation programs could be utilized in combination withMRI, or such alternative field estimation programs could be applied to avariety of imaging modalities.

Certain embodiments of adaptive filtering, as well as other filteringtechniques, can be used to computationally limit certain effects ofdistortion artifacts on the imaging process. Certain embodiments offiltering out distortion can include, but is not limited to, decreasingthe effects of, amplitude of, or other similar considerations ofdistortion such as by deriving suitable input compensating information.Certain embodiments of filtering distortion, by comparison, is intendedto include, but not limited to, decreasing relative strength of othersignals, information, data, etc. of non-distorting aspects. Bothfiltering and/or filtering out can be utilized in certain embodiments ofimaging and/or signal processing techniques.

Adaptive filtering can be used to limit certain effects of distortionduring imaging such as by recursively filtering distortions such as byderiving suitable input compensating information. Certain embodiments ofsuch adaptive imaging techniques could be applied in association withthe imaging to derive suitable input compensating information, as tolimit the distortion, or alternatively as a feedback mechanism. Forexample, if an input non-optical electromagnetic (e.g., input magneticfield and/or Eddy current for MRI, or photon particles for X-ray), orother input information, can be filtered, shaped, contoured, shielded,curved, etc.; then the distortion effects in those areas of greaterdistortion can be limited. In certain instances, such altering,shielding, limiting, etc. the input information can be performed in thealternative to, or in combination with, the computationally compensatingfor the distortions as described in this disclosure. Certain embodimentsof computers, controllers, processors, etc. as can in included incertain embodiments of the distortion compensation controller 97, asdescribed in this disclosure with respect to FIG. 3 and at otherlocations, can be used to perform such signal processing as filtering,input information or field modification, computational compensation,etc.

Certain types of distortion (particularly particle bombardment type) canbe at least partially limited due, at least in part, to particletracking techniques, either deterministic ones of stochastic techniques,certain illustrative embodiments as generally known as the Monte-Carlotechnique. The Monte-Carlo technique represents a relatively accuratemethod of calculating radiation levels arising from nuclear sources, forexample. Monte Carlo methods make extensive use of random numbers tocontrol the decision making when a physical event has a number ofpossible results. When given a comprehensive set of nuclear data andinfinite computer resources the method can reproduce, in a computermodel, a simulation of that problem. Monte Carlo analysis can representa largely stochastic modeling of distortions that can be produced bycertain embodiments of the distorting feature 102 without a more complexmathematical analysis. Certain embodiments of the Monte Carlo analysiscould be applied following the imaging to compensate for the distortion,or alternatively to derive the input compensating information as afeedback mechanism. Certain embodiments of the deriving the inputcompensating information could also be automated, as to allow thedistortion compensation controller to be controlled based at least inpart on feedback, automated based at least in part on feedback, and/orrobotically performed at least partially based on feedback. Certainembodiments of computers, controllers, processors, etc. as can inincluded in certain embodiments of the distortion compensationcontroller 97, as described in this disclosure with respect to FIG. 3and at other locations, therefore can be used to perform the Monte-Carlotechnique, and/or other similar computer modeling techniques.

These computational embodiments of the distortion compensators areintended to be limiting in scope, and are not intended to be limiting inscope. In general, such computational embodiments of the distortioncompensators can be utilized to limit distortion to the images resultingat least in part from the distorting feature, but typically cannotremove the effects in their entirety. It might be useful to utilizecertain embodiments of combinations of the distortion compensator, whichcan thereby be used to effectively remove more of the effects of thedistortion than single distortion compensators. Certain embodiments ofthese distortion compensating techniques can thereby be utilized incombination, in series, and/or in alternative for certain types ofimaging such as to limit imaged effects of distortion.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature 102 that is illustrated as beingconfigured, for example, as an insert, pin, screw, bone, or otherman-made or naturally occurring item, etc. that can be embedded, orotherwise associated with a region to be imaged, such as a bone in theindividual (human or animal). Certain embodiments of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102 may be positionedrelative to a bone(s), bone end(s), bone fragment(s), etc. such as tosecure the portion(s) of the bone(s). Certain embodiments of the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102 can be usedto maintain broken or fractured bone(s), etc. in a suitable position asto enhance or promote healing of the bones. Particularly with largebones, the dimensions of the associated healing embodiments of the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102 may beconsiderable. Other configurations of the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature 102 such as pins, screws, rods, plates,bolts, joints, and other devices as described in this disclosure whoseuse may result in at least some distortion of the imaging.

Certain orthopedic, dental, and other embodiments of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102 can result in certaindistortion as a result of considerable non-optical electromagnetic fieldor signal (e.g., MRI or X-ray) modification such as may be used duringimaging by a variety of embodiments of the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) 104 (as described with respect to FIG. 3), such as maybe limited using certain embodiments of the distortion compensator. Forexample, certain distortion effects of implants such as fillings canalso be removed from individuals (such as humans or animals).

To improve imaging functionality, it may thereby be desirable to limitthe distortion effects on imaging. One source of distortions of certainembodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 caninclude integrating or inserting the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature 102 at least partially into the individual103 (human, animal, or organism). Certain embodiments of the at leastthe portion of the at least one distorting feature 102 can therebydistort at least a portion of the image (situated at least partiallyproximate to the imaging feature) being imaged by the distortionsusceptible imaging device(s) 104. Certain embodiments of the individual103 can be, for example, a person, an animal, an organism, etc., oranother type of living being in which certain ones of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102, such as inserts, canbe provided. The application of certain embodiments of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102, when at leastpartially associated with the individual 103 (human, animal, ororganism), can be at least partially implanted into the individual, atleast partially positioned proximate to the individual, etc., and canthereupon result in imaging distortions to the individual (typically inareas proximate to a junction of the individual and the at least theportion of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102).

Certain embodiments of the distortions to the imaging as caused at leastpartially as a result of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 can thereby considerably reduce the quality ofthe imaging in that region and/or useful information, images, oranalysis that may be obtained from the imaging. Certain embodiments ofthe distortion resulting from the at least the portion of the at leastone distorting feature 102 can vary for such parameters that caninclude, but are not limited to, dimension(s) and/or shape(s) of thedistorting feature, material(s) of the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature 102 (e.g., whether at least some portion(s)of the at least one distorting feature(s) is metallic, ferromagnetic,diamagnetic, paramagnetic, etc.), relative position between the at leastthe portion of the at least one distorting feature 102 and thedistortion compensator 100 (as described with respect to FIG. 3), etc.

Certain positional and/or orientation information about the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102 may be characterizedas distortion characterizing imaging information, as described in thisdisclosure. Certain embodiments of the distortion characterizing imaginginformation can thereupon be used to generate or derive the inputcompensating information. Within this disclosure, depending on context,the distortion characterizing imaging information can include, but isnot limited to, at least some characterizing information that candescribe at least one non-optical electromagnetic characteristic (e.g.,MRI or X-ray) which may be alterable based at least in part on anorientation (e.g., angular about one, two, or three axes) and/or atleast one position of the at least the portion of at least onedistorting feature 102 with respect to the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) 104 and/or the individual 103.

Within this disclosure, “electromagnetic” such as with non-opticalelectromagnetic can include but is not limited to, (depending oncontext), electromagnetic, electronic, electric, magnetic, and/or otherpermutations of combinations of electric, electronic, and/or magneticsignals, waves, fields, transmission media, etc. Even broaderterminology, as generally understood by those skilled in the electricalengineering area, are also intended to be applicable inclusively.Certain embodiments of the distortion characterizing imaging informationand/or the input compensating information can be determined, forexample, with respect to the individual (human, animal, or organism)and/or the at least one distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104.The distortion characterizing imaging information and/or thecorresponding input compensating information can thereby vary dependingon its position and/or orientation with respect to the individual and/orthe at least one distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104.

Certain individuals 103 (such as persons, animals, or organisms) canhave such embodiments of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 as implants either at least partially inserted inthem, at least partially positioned proximate to them, and/or at leastotherwise partially associated with them. While this disclosuredescribes a variety of embodiments of the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature 102 as being compensated for primarily inhuman individuals being imaged at least partially by the distortionsusceptible imaging device(s) 104; similar techniques can be utilized toovercome distortions to other animal or organism imaging, whileremaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Certainembodiments of such embodiments of the distorting feature(s) as implantscan adversely affect imaging of the individual 103 (human or animals).Certain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device 104, asdescribed in this disclosure, can thereby include at least onedistortion compensator 100 which can thereby be configured to removedistortions such as image artifacts that may result from, or beassociated with, a variety of the at least the portion of the at leastone distorting feature 102 such as surgical implants or alternatelynaturally-occurring matter, fluids, cells, etc.

The shape and material properties of the at least the portion of atleast one distorting feature 102 can be used to determine thenon-optical electromagnetic field, signal, or characteristic (such as aninduced magnetic field in the instance of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)) in the vicinity of the implant, and thereby calculate, determine,or consider how to compensate for the distortion of the non-opticalelectromagnetic field resulting from the at least the portion of atleast one distorting feature 102.

Certain embodiments of the imaging techniques can thereby rely on suchalgorithms as Maxwell solvers, Monte-Carlo techniques, finite elementanalysis, as well as other computational techniques to determine whichan effect which the at least one distorting feature is likely to have onthe particular imaging. Thereupon, certain embodiments of the inputcompensating information, as well as certain embodiments of thedistortion compensator, can be derived aush as by computationallysubtracting, filtering, or otherwise reducing the effects of thedistortion on imaging using such frequency domain/time domain transformsas the Fourier Transform (and inverse), the Fast Fourier Transform (andinverse), etc. In certain instances, the signal, image, data,information can be transformed into the frequency domain to perform thedesired signal processing such as filtering, etc. Upon return to thetime domain, certain filtered effects, distortions, artifacts, etc. canbe removed or limited.

Certain imaging distortions can result at least partially from imagesbeing captured using a variety of the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) 104 depending largely upon the type of imaging technologyassociated with the distortion susceptible imaging device(s). A varietyof image information, data, images, etc. such as can be provided usingthe distortion susceptible imaging device(s) can be contained in, storedin, accessed from, captured from, etc. a variety of sources includingbut not limited to: obtaining from the distortion compensator library776 that may be configured as the electronic library or database,capturing from an imager or other imaging device, recalling from memorystorage device such as main memory or a flash memory device, etc.

Some description as to how distortions are introduced into distortionsusceptible imaging device(s) 104 is described in this disclosure withrespect to magnetic resonant imagers (MRI), even though it is to beunderstood that similar concepts can be applied to a variety ofdistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 and/or associated imagingtechnology. MRI imaging, for example, may utilize an application of anumber of magnetic fields as being applied to the individual 103 (human,animal, or organism).

Certain distortion characterizing imaging information can be associatedwith the position, characteristics, structure, or other aspects of theat least the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102, whetherman-made or naturally occurring. Within this disclosure, inputcompensating information and/or electromagnetic imaging characterizinginformation can, depending on context, relate to the distorting effectof an implant on an image of the individual 103 (human, animal, ororganism) associated with the implant. As such, the distorting effect ofthe input compensating information, as associated with the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102, can vary dependingupon the feature's configuration. For example, certain embodiments ofthe distortion characterizing imaging information may be expected toexhibit modified distortion effects as a result of material, changes,surface finishes, angle to the distortion susceptible imaging device(s),inclination to the distortion susceptible imaging device(s), contours,bends, edges, obscuring surface areas, necking-down portions, etc.

A considerable variety of distortions such as artifacts, etc. can beprovided by imaging a variety of the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature 102, whether man-made or naturallyoccurring, etc. using the at least one distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s). Certain embodiments of the distortions, artifacts, etc. canvary as a function of the inclination of the implants relative to thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104. Such distortioncharacterizing imaging information and/or the input compensatinginformation of each of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 may thereby be quantified, and can be stored,maintained, recalled, etc. from the distortion compensator library 776that may be configured as the electronic library or database describingthe input compensating information and/or the distortion characterizingimaging information based at least on a relative positioning (includingorientation) of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 relative to the distortion susceptible imaging device(s)104.

Within this disclosure, a variety of input compensating informationand/or the distortion characterizing information can be stored in and/orobtained from certain embodiments of the distortion compensator library776 that may be configured as the electronic library or database, asdescribed in this disclosure. For example, the distortion compensatorlibrary 776 that may be configured as the electronic library or databasecan include data, information, images, etc., such as relating to theinput compensating information, likely in a tabular or database form.Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator library 776 that maybe configured as the electronic library or database can containdistortion characterizing image information and/or the inputcompensating information whose characterizing can vary at least in partbased on an orientation of the at least one distorting feature. Certainembodiments of the orientation of the at least one distorting featurecan vary based at least in part on dimension(s) of the distortingfeature(s), material of the distorting feature, etc. Certain embodimentsof the distortion characterizing image information and/or the inputcompensating information can be used to computationally limit thedistortion.

Certain embodiments of the distortion characterizing imaging informationand/or the input compensating information can thereby containinformation about the non-optical electromagnetic radiation, field(s),signals, etc. that can be produced, obstructed, absorbed, harmonicallygenerated, reflected, refracted, or otherwise affected based at least inpart on the position of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102, which can vary depending on an orientation,position, angle, or other such aspect of the at least one distortingfeature(s) 102. Once the position and/or orientation of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102 can be determined(such as may be stored in the distortion compensator library 776 thatmay be configured as the electronic library or database), the expecteddistortion characterizing imaging information and/or the inputcompensating information for that relative position and orientation ofthe at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102relative to the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 can bederived. Using at least certain embodiments or combinations of the timedomain/frequency domain transform (as well as the inverse timedomain/frequency domain transform) as described in this disclosure, theeffect of the distortion characterizing imaging information and/or theinput compensating information can be computationally reduced, limited,or removed; thereupon at least partially compensating for distortionfrom the at least one distorting feature which may be man-made ornaturally occurring.

Within this disclosure, depending on context, certain embodiments of thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 can be considered as thosedevices that can be used to at least partially image the individual(human, animal, or organism), such as may thereupon be used to deriveimages, image information, etc. FIG. 5, for example, shows certainembodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 (e.g.,configured as an MRI), which can capture an image of the individual 103.FIG. 6 shows the individual 103 (human, animal, or organism) of FIG. 5in which a number of slices 108 are illustrated as extending through theindividual. Certain embodiments of the slices 108 represent one exampleof an illustrative series of images (e.g., substantially planar) thatmay be captured by the MRI. While the embodiments of the distortionsusceptible imaging device(s) of FIG. 6 illustrates the slices 108 asbeing spaced at a particular distance, the spacing or distance betweenat least certain one(s) of successive slice(s) can be increased,decreased, rotated, angled, resized, filtered, or otherwise modified orselected as desired and/or appropriate based at least in part on thedesired imaging process.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator may also allowprediction as to when certain slices could be repeatedly corrected,filtered, and/or averaged, such as may be used to improve thesignal-to-noise ratio, or when multiple images collected at differentangles, distances, etc., and at least certain portions of the distinctimages could be Kalman filtered, adaptive filtered, or otherwisefiltered or combined in a linear or nonlinear fashion to produce a moreaccurate image. As such, a variety of filtering techniques can beutilized to filter the effect of distortions and/or filter out theeffect of the undesired imaging area(s) nearby distortions. Usingcertain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104,as may be used by, a physician, a technician, or another operator of thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 (MRI), can scan through themultiple slices 108 as desired to view the individual (human, animal, ororganism) at the desired region and/or depth.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator can utilize thedistortion characterizing imaging information and/or the inputcompensating information derived at least in part based on the instrinicproperties of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102, as well as the position, characteristic, and/or orientationof the at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102at least partially in, on, or near the body (as described with respectto FIGS. 1, 2, and/or 4) relative to the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s). Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator can therebyact to subtract/filter out the distortion effects of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102 from the image.

In addition, certain embodiments of the distortion compensator canpredict a configuration or shape of the at least the portion of the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102 (or an itemit interfaces with) after some duration. For instance, after certaindegradable parts are inserted into the body, portions could be expectedto physically, chemically, biologically, or otherwise degrade followinga particular duration as a result of wear, material degradation, plasticdeformation, impact, etc. As another example, if a screw, pin, orfastener in inserted into a bone, it might be expected under certaininstances that the bone and/or the screw, pin, or fastener (and/or aconnection there between) could degrade at a particular rate.

The intrinsic properties of changes to the distorting feature may alsobe reflected and/or predicted utilizing distortion characterizingimaging information such as may predict changes to the shape,configuration, orientation, or position of the at least the portion ofthe at least one distorting feature 102. In certain instances, suchprediction may be based, for example from design blueprints or physicalfinite-element modeling based on typical degradation rates. In otherembodiments, such predictions may be measured, for example in a dummybody or material meant to simulate the distortion-susceptible item. Theintrinsic properties of an object may therefore be expected to vary overtime, as absorbable components degrade.

In addition, certain movable parts, such as artificial knee joints,spinal constructs, etc. may be expected to deform, rotate, or otherwisealter orientation over time. For example, as the knee of the individual(e.g., human or animal) flexes, the artificial knee-joint (or otherembodiments of the distorting feature) will similarly deform or changeto mirror the motion. As such, certain embodiments of the distortioncharacterizing imaging information and/or the input compensatinginformation may include information as to relative angles or positionsof relatively-displaceable portions of the at least the portion of theat least one distorting feature 102. These changes in certain propertiescan be forecasted from a model of the initial configuration of theobject, and a computational model of how the temporal evolution of theobject alters the effects beyond that predicted or measured based on theinitial configuration. Such factors as the relative angle of differentportions of the distorting feature may be used to predict an overalldistortion of the total distorting feature.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator can thereby utilizethe distortion characterizing imaging information and/or the inputcompensating information can be derived at least in part based on theposition and/or orientation of the at least the portion of the at leastone distorting feature 102 relative to the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) such as to subtract/filter out the effects ofdistortion and/or other items (such as skin, tissue, bone, etc. of theindividual 103) from the image, and thereby provide a distortion-reducedimage of the at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature102, such as can be used to determine the position and/or orientation ofthe at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102. Forinstance, such images could be used to determine whether an implant isproperly positioned, installed, inserted into, and/or otherwiseassociated with the individual 103. For example, it might be useful todetermine whether such embodiments of the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature 102 as bolts, pins, screws, etc. areproperly seated or positioned as desired into an assembly, relative tothe bone(s), with respect to other tissue or material, etc. Certainembodiments of the distortion compensator can also be alter the inputsignals, field, etc. as utilized by the imaging device(s) to limitdistortive imaging effects provided by the imaging feature. To limit thedistorting effects of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 such as by filtering and/or other techniques asdescribed in this disclosure, it would be useful to have an accuratemodel of the configuration of the at least the portion of the at leastone distorting feature 102, including an interface with bones, otherdistorting feature, etc. Certain embodiments of the input compensatinginformation can be derived at least partially based upon such a model.

There can be various embodiments of limiting distortion as a result ofat least a portion of the distorting feature 102. With certainembodiments of distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104, it may bedesired to image (and/or predict an amount or configuration of) amaterial or an area around or nearby at least a portion of thedistorting feature 102 while limiting the distortion effects of the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature. In otherembodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104, it maybe desired to image (and/or predict an amount or configuration of) anarea of the at least the portion of the distorting feature 102 whilelimiting its distortion effects. In yet other embodiments of the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102, it may bedesired to image (and/or predict an amount or configuration of) ajunction material or junction area between at least a portion of thedistorting feature and other material while limiting the distortioneffects of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature.

Measurement of compensation parameters on a device equipped with thehardware and software to perform the compensation, can then beassociated with the patient, and the resulting compensation can therebyprovide a more compact image while reducing distortion of imaging.

Certain embodiments of distortions, such as artifacts, which can therebybe caused by the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 such as implants may be in, or operationally proximate to,the imaging field of view. An example of two considerably differentembodiments of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 that may be similar distortion effects on an image by thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 can include, but are notlimited to, implants as compared with surface electrodes. Certainmaterials of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 can produce their own characteristic static magnetic fieldthat can perturb the relationship between position and frequencyessential to accurate image reconstruction.

Certain ones of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 may have a magnetic susceptibility, other non-opticalelectromagnetic susceptibility such as may significantly differ fromthat of tissue, and thereby distortion may result. Certain embodimentsof the at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102,such as may be imaged using the distortion susceptible imaging device(s)that may operate at least partially using such an imaging process asMRI, may induce an eddy current which may be at least partiallygenerated as a result of the incident RF magnetic field.

Certain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104may thereupon affect non-optical electromagnetic radiation (such as theRF field for MRI, or fields that could distort the particles for X-ray)near the implant, which may thereby result in the distortion. Theparticular type of non-optical electromagnetic distortion(s), resultingfrom particular implants on particular imaging processes, may varydepending on various factors such as material of the particulardistorting feature(s) as implants and imaging technology. As such, theparticular distortion(s), the particular distorting feature(s) asimplant(s) and their shapes and material, and the various imagingtechniques and/or technologies as described in this disclosure areintended to be illustrative in nature but not limiting in scope.

While actual distortions of the individual (human, animal, or organism)may not be shown in the figures, their effects are generally understood.There may be a variety of imaging distortions that can result fromimaging (by the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104) a varietyof the at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102.Examples of such distortions, for example, are displayed at variouslocations across the Internet. Such distortions to the images providedby the different embodiments of the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) would generally be understood by those skilled in the medicalimaging technologies, as well as physicians, etc. who have to obtainuseful information and/or provide a prognosis or analysis as a result ofsuch distorted images.

There may be a variety of techniques and/or mechanisms, for each imagingtechnology, by which the distortion compensator 100 can limit distortioneffects from certain ones of the at least the portion of the at leastone distorting feature 102 by the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) 104. Certain embodiments of such ones of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102 may be associatedwith the individual (human, animal, or organism) in different ways, andthereby may also be removed, limited, or subtracted in different ways.Such image processing techniques as subtractive processing and/or filterprocessing may be utilized, for example, to subtract and/or filter outthe distortion effects either at least partially, or perhaps almostentirely in certain applications or embodiments. In certain instances, aseries or combination of the distortion compensators 100 can be operatedsequentially or in combination, such as to further reduce the effects ofdistortion.

Methods that nonlinearly optimize a given metric for performance of thecompensator can also optimize the image automatically orquasi-automatically, or optimize images dynamically in response to userfeedback. As such, with certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator, the distortion effects can be only partially removed, whichin others they can be largely and/or almost entirely removed. Upondetermination of the optimal parameters for compensation for a givenimaging session, these parameters can be saved and utilized at a laterdate as initial conditions, such as could be used to speed up theoptimization of computation on images or other information such as theinput compensating information having at least some effects of the atleast one distorting feature partially removed.

Certain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104can, for example, obtain at least one distortion characterizing imaginginformation and/or the input compensating information that can beassociated with the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 of the individual 103 (human, animal, or organism). Certainembodiments of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 can be situated at least partially internally to theindividual 103, at least partially external to the individual, and/orotherwise proximate the individual 103. Certain embodiments of theimaging (such as can be performed at least partially using thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104) can relate to imaging atleast a portion of the individual 103 (human, animal, or organism)integrating the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 at a relative imaging position.

While the above embodoments of the at least one distorting feature(s)102 as artificial joints, implants, bone portions or segments, etc. hasutilized certain embodiments of the distorting compensator 100; it is tobe understood that certain embodiments of the at least one distortingfeature(s) can also be applied to such microscopic items as cells, bloodcells, stem cells, magnetic beads, etc., or to sets of such cells, whichappear as a continuous mass, either solid or fluid. Certain embodimentsof the at least one distorting feature(s) 102 that are included as bloodcells (which often include hemoglobin) can be distorted when imaged as aresult of the hemoglobin (a ferromagnetic component) which can result indistortions to various types of imaging (e.g., MRI) of blood. Certaintypes of blood cells can be characterized according to their generaldimension(s), orientation profile (e.g., aspect ration, such as a lengthdivided by a width), components thereof such as could be determined byspectrometers, etc. In addition, ferromagnetic bead labeled cells couldalso be characterized according to the concentration of beads containedin the cells.

FIG. 14, for example, illustrates one embodiment of an at least oneopaque matter 706 such as a microscopic cell, fluid such as blood,tissue, cancer, or stem cell (which will appear stylized in thisapplication for purpose of illustration), bone fragment, fluid, etc.which may be imaged by itself

Certain embodiments of the at least the at least one distortingfeature(s) may well be smaller than typical implants, bones, or othermatter as described above. When the microscopic embodiments of the atleast one distorting feature(s) can be imaged such as by usingmagnification techniques, it can cause distortion off the image.Regularly-appearing embodiments of the distorting figure of FIG. 14,such as cells, etc. may be characterized by their shape (general length,width, angular position, imaging characteristic(s), etc. Such imagingcharacteristics can also vary depending upon their orientation (similarto an implant). As such, certain characteristic features for imaging canbe stored in the distortion compensator library 776 that may beconfigured as the electronic library or database, similar to asreferenced as 776 and described with respect to FIGS. 12 and 13.

FIG. 15 is a diagram of one embodiment of imaging-opaque matter 706,such as microscopic cells, fatty material, pieces of bone, liquid,fluid, etc. which do not cause particular distortions during the imagingprocess for the imaging modality. The imaging-opaque material may haverelatively good contrast during imaging, and may, for example, provide avariety of useful imaging information. Certain embodiments of theimaging-opaque matter. As such, a particular cell or other matter may beclassified as an at least one distorting feature(s) one imaging modalitysuch as MRI, while it may be classified as an embodiment of theimaging-opaque matter 706 for another imaging modality such as CT scan.

FIG. 16 is a diagram of the embodiment of imaging-opaque material 706 ofFIG. 15 with at least one distorting features(s) interspersedtherewithin the image. As such, in certain instances, the imagingquality of the imaging-opaque material can be considerably reduced, suchas to result in a distortion of an image of the imaging-opaque material.One example of such a microscopic version of the at least one distortingfeatures(s) could include blood cells that are ferromagnetic since theyinclude hemoglobin. When such blood cells are imaged using MRI, they canconsiderably distort the background of the image. Other types of mattersuch as, cells, matter, fluid, liquid, etc can act as distortingfeatures for other imaging modalities, such as would be understood bythose skilled in the imaging and/or medical arts.

Certain embodiments of imaging-opaque matter 706 with a variety ofpotential interspersed at least one distorting feature(s) 102 may beapplied to medical, clinical, or other imaging areas.

Furthermore, intravenously introduced iron oxide particles are commonlyused as a contrast agent to enhance the visibility of blood itself,sometimes at the expense of distorting the appearance of tissue adjacentto elaborate vascular beds, due to the large local permeability. Suchcharacterizing information could be included in the distortioncompensator library 776 that may be configured as the electronic libraryor database, such as may utilize certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator controller 97 which may utilize databases, etc. as describedin this disclosure. Other memory devices may be utilized as certainembodiments of the distortion compensator 100 to thereby limitdistortion to imaging such as may be caused by a variety of thedistortion compensator. With certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator 100, the state or health of surrounding tissues, cells,matter, etc. that are in promimity to the at least one distortingfeature(s) 102 could be considered by perhaps limiting the amount ofdistortion provided by certain embodiments of the at least onedistorting feature(s).

Certain embodiments of the at least one distorting feature(s) 102 suchas certain cells (e.g., blood cells, etc.) can appear transparent due todistortion resulting from excessive distortion-causing agents situatedtherein. For example, excessive hemoglobin can be included in certainblood cells. When such blood cells are situated in close proximity tocertain other cells (e.g., stem cells), such other cells appeartranslucent, similar to as if they were dead (some times even if theyare still living). The deliberate labeling of exogenous cells beforethey are transplanted into the body, with MRI-detectable compounds suchas iron oxide particles, can enable the cells (either visualizedindividually, or in clusters, or dispersed in a fluid such as blood orcerebrospinal fluid) to be visualized, at the expense of visualizingneighboring regions of interest. As such, certain embodiments of thedistortion compensator 100 can be configured to limit distortions toimaging of minute organisms, or small portions of other individuals, bycertain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104.

A variety of embodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 3, can be configured to include thedistortion compensator library 776 that may be configured as theelectronic library or database, etc. such as to contain informationwhich can model distortions based at least in part on the at least onedistorting feature, as well as its orientation, position, etc. Certainembodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 can therebyallow for updating of electronic libraries and models, as well asoptimization of the electronic libraries and models through theaccumulation of population data on the at least one distortingfeature(s) such as implants, bones, blood cells, cells, etc. Certainembodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 can allowupdating of data over time due to patient change, finer discriminationof distorting features to allow parts to be emphasized/de-emphasizeddynamically.

Certain embodiments of the at least one distorting feature, such asblood cells, other cells, etc., can be configured to utilize one or morecontrast agents or dyes, such as may be applied to specific areas socells, tissue, organs, blood vessels, etc. can be made more visible.Certain embodiments of contrast agents can include a ferromagneticcomponent such as hemoglobin, and as such can make the at least onedistorting feature more likely to distort such distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) 104 as MRIs. The cell can thereupon degrade certaintypes of contrast agents and/or the material contained therein such thatthe level of the distortion being provided by the distorting featurewill likely reduce as the individual, such as a cell, digests or breaksdown the contrast agent. As another example, iron oxide nanoparticlesare often infused into the bloodstream to enable the cardiovascularsystem to be visualized in sharper relief via MRI, e.g., for seeinghighly-vascularized tumors; after a period of hours to days, theparticles are taken up by the spleen or liver, and subsequentlydegraded. The distorting effect of blood would decrease over time,whereas the distorting effect of spleen or liver iron oxide may actuallybriefly increase, before ultimately also decreasing. As such, afterseveral days, the amount of distortion that certain embodiments ofindividuals being exposed to certain distortion-producing contrastagents may decrease.

Certain embodiments of the “microscopic” features may distort on acell-by-cell basis, as described within this disclosure. Additionally,certain microscopic features may also distort as ensembles. For example,an ensemble or a clump of iron oxide-labeled cells could distort theapperance of a whole volume of brain tissue nearby. Alternately, a bloodvessel that contains high levels of iron oxide contrast agent (such aswhich may be added to enhance the imaging of blood vessels), coulddistort the appearance of a tumor, other tissue, other cells, or othermatter particularly which may be highly vascularized. Such ensembledistortions may considerably reduce the relevant short-term case thanthe effects of single cells in isolation, the case where the distortingfeature is an ensemble of cells or particles dispersed throughout amaterial, a group of cells, some fatty material, solid or fluid, or aconglomeration or combination of the above that may distorts theappearance of an ensemble of cells or solids or fluids nearby, that donot contain the same level of the particle as the part containing theparticles.

As such, certain uses of the term “organism” in this disclosure can,depending on context, be used as including some cells, tissue, opaquematerial, fatty material, etc. may cause distortion to images when theorganism is being imaged by the distortion susceptible imaging device(s)104 alone or with a few cells. Such imaging of a relatively few numberof cells may be the case in clinical cellular research, etc. Alternatelycertain uses of the term “organism”, as described in this disclosure,may be applied to the situation when the organism is being imaged withan aggregation or ensemble of other cells, tissue, material, fattymaterial, etc. Such may be the case when the organism, or alternatelythe human or animal including the animal is being imaged in vivo, etc.,or even as a portion of an aggregate material outside of the person oranimal is being imaged. Certain embodiments of the at least onedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104, such as certain MRIs, arecapable of imaging enlargement or microscopy such as in certaininstances to allow imaging down to a number of the cellular ormicroscopic levels.

Certain embodiments of the imaging, such as can be performed by thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104, can computationallycompensate for at least some of the distortion effects of the at leastthe portion of the at least one distorting feature 102. Suchcompensation is based, at least partially, upon considering thedistortion characterizing imaging information and/or the inputcompensating information considering, at least in part, on the relativeimaging position of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 relative to the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) 104.

Certain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104can image the entire individual 103 (human, animal, or organism), alarge portion of the individual, or only a small segment of theindividual based, at least partially, of the dimension, field of view,and/or configuration of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s). Avariety of embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s)104 and/or their respective imaging technologies may have the distortingeffects as provided by the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 reduced or otherwise diminished, such as mayinclude, but are not limited to: MRI, CAT scans, PET scans, othernon-optical electromagnetic imaging techniques, or X-ray imagingtechniques, etc. Within this disclosure, a number of distortionsusceptible imaging device(s) 104 are described as having the distortingeffects of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 reduced or limited. It is to be understood that otherembodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104, as onlylimited by the claimed scope of the present disclosure, are intended tobe protected as having the distorting effects of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102 reduced or limited.

Certain embodiments of distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104,such as MRI scanners, may be configured as full-body scanners (or atleast be able to image a considerable portion of the body), while otherscan be applied to only a portion of the individual 103 such as the head,a hand, a surface of the individual, blood flow, etc. Certainembodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 canimage blood flows or pools, for example, since blood containshemoglobin, and therefore iron which is a ferromagnetic material, bloodflow and pools can be imaged using MRI, and its derivatives. Theselection of the embodiment of distortion susceptible imaging device(s)to use can include such factors as imaging quality, location of injuryor illness, region to be detected, purpose of imaging, expense ofimaging, potential danger of damage to the individual being imaged, etc.

With certain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s)104 (e.g., MRI-based), the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) canimage a number of slices through the individual 103 (human, animal, ororganism), each slice 108 desirably imaging, capturing, and/or obtainingan imaged plane such as may extend through the individual. For example,certain MRI-based embodiments of the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) 104 can be configured to image, capture, or obtain a series ofslices 108 through the individual 103 (human, animal, or organism) asdescribed with respect to FIG. 6. Such captured, imaged, or stored datarelating to such image information as taken through the slices canthereupon be analyzed, processed, and/or displayed by a number ofembodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 with theeffects of the distortions limited or largely removed.

To provide quality or useful results, each image slice 108, as producedby the MRI embodiment of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s)104, should be very nearly planar. As such, each slice may be consideredas a substantially planar view as taken through the individual 103 asillustrated with respect to FIG. 6. Often, successive and other slices108 as imaged by MRI-based embodiments of the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) 104 may each be substantially parallel to each other,and may therefore provide useful imaging information by notingdifferences from one slice to another slice. Certain embodiments of theat least the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102 can havethe effect of distorting at least one applied non-opticalelectromagnetic radiation (e.g., the applied magnetic-field for MRI) asutilized by the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 from itsdesired substantially planar state into an altered (e.g., non-planar)configuration. Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator canthereby limit the distortive effects from the non-planar slices. Thiscan result in the mapping of MRI information from multiple points inspace, onto the same point, or onto points that are not in the sameplane, but nevertheless in a predictable geometry.

Certain results of such distortions of the images (i.e., the likelydistorted region 140) as imaged by the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) 104 may occlude the region of the individual 103 (human,animal, or organism) adjacent to the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature 102, as described with respect to FIGS. 1,2, 4, 7, 8, and 9, as well as other places through the disclosure. Forexample, for an MRI of an individual having an implant such as arespective spinal fusion of FIGS. 1 and 2, a knee replacement of FIG. 8,etc., the MRI images captured at relatively remote locations from therespective spinal region or knee may be useful, but the images at therespective imaged spinal region or knee may be occluded by distortions,artifacts, etc. Certain embodiments of the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) 104 such as MRIs may be generally understood to beparticularly suited to detect soft tissue, such as skin, the brain,organs, blood, etc.

Consider that, for example, when imaging the individual 103 (human,animal, or organism) in a region adjacent an implant such as a bonereplacement using certain conventional imaging techniques, the imagesand/or other information derived there from which may be adjacent thebone replacement may likely form the likely distorted region 140. Thedistorted region 140 may, for example, exhibit poor (e.g., distorted)image quality as a result of the active non-optical electromagneticradiation (e.g., MRI radiation or X-ray radiation) as provided by theimaging technology. In certain instances, for example, the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102 may distort thenon-optical electromagnetic radiation associated with the MRI imaging(e.g., resulting in changes in at least one spin(s) of the atoms,changes in the path of the eddy currents, etc.) or X-ray as a result ofthe imaging.

There may be a variety of techniques and/or devices by which certaindistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 can limit the effect of thedistortion. Such distortion may result, e.g., from deflection and/ordistortion of such non-optical electromagnetic radiation as magneticfields, eddy currents, etc., in the instance of MRI during the imaging,as described in this disclosure. Certain embodiments of the distortionsusceptible imaging device(s) 104 can thereby computationally (ormathematically) “subtract out” or otherwise limit the effect of thedistortion either following the imaging. Certain embodiments of thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 can modify the flow,direction, etc. of the applied non-optical electromagnetic radiation.

There may thereby be a variety of non-optical electromagnetictechnologies associated with the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) 104 that can provide the image(s), which can include, but arenot limited to, MRI, CAT scan, PEC scan, other non-opticalelectromagnetic radiation imaging technique, other particle bombardmentimaging technique, and/or an X-ray imaging technique, etc. Certainembodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can be associated withother distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104, such as the PositronEmission Tomography (PET) scan. Certain embodiments of the PET scans arecommercially available, and generally understood by those skilled in theart, such as described in The Biomedical Engineering Handbook, SecondEdition, Volume 1, 2000, CRC Press/IEEE Press, pp. 67-1 to 67-17(incorporated herein by reference). Imaging using the PET scan, forexample, can begin with an injection of a metabolically active tracerinto the individual (human, animal, or organism). The tracer includes abiologically active molecule that carries with it a positron-emittingisotope (e.g., ¹¹C, ¹⁴N, ¹⁵O, and/or ¹⁸F). The tracer, after beingabsorbed into portions of the body for which the biologically moleculemay have an affinity for particular cells (such as certain cancer cells,for example). The cells can thereupon decay radioactively.

Certain embodiments of the distortion characterizing imaginginformation, as could be obtained by the distortion compensator 100,could thereby provide some indication of the at least the portion of theat least one distorting feature 102 that can act to distort the imagecaptured of the region. Certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator 100 can be configured to obtain the distortioncharacterizing imaging information pertaining to the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102 which may be obtainedfrom a variety of sources as described in this disclosure. Certainembodiments of the distortion characterizing imaging information and/orinput compensating information can be obtained, for example, in the formof images or data relating to images that can be obtained, such as beingrecorded, retrieved, captured, and/or otherwise obtained.

Within this disclosure, the application of the distortion compensator tovarious embodiments of imagers is described. Certain embodiments of thesource(s) of the image(s) may be obtained from one or more of thedistortion compensator library 776 that may be configured as theelectronic library or database, containing pre-determined distortioncharacterizing image information relating to the at least the portion ofthe at least one distorting feature 102, in vivo, prior to inserting theimplant in the body, etc. Certain embodiments of the distortioncharacterizing imaging information and/or the input compensatinginformation can pertain to, but may not be limited to, MRI, imaged,X-ray, or other information relating at least in part to non-opticalelectromagnetic radiation that can be absorbed, reflected, refracted,transmitted, deflected, or otherwise affected by certain embodiments ofthe at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102.Certain embodiments of the distortion characterizing imaging informationand/or the input compensating information can pertain to an interactionbetween the individual 103 (human, animal, or organism) and the at leastthe portion of the at least one distorting feature 102, which can be atleast partially integrated into and/or associated with (relativeto/into) the individual.

Certain embodiments of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102, particularly those whose distortionsusceptibilities can include a ferromagnetic or, to a lesser degree, aparamagnetic material, or may otherwise image distortion susceptiblematerial, may distort the image(s) to a degree, such as to make theregion of slices 108 corresponding to the image distorted from thedesired substantially planar configuration. The dimension, configurationmixture of materials, and/or other such factors of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102 can also haveeffect(s) on the distortion at least partially on the distortionsusceptible imaging device(s) 104. Certain embodiments of the at leastpartially man-made or naturally-occurring embodiments of the at leastthe portion of the at least one distorting feature 102 can be eithercustomized or non-customized prior to insertion or installation relativeto the individual (human, animal, or organism).

Certain embodiments of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 can thereby be naturally occurring. For example,bones, etc. can act as the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 since they may have a distorting affect such asto degrade image quality immediately adjacent the at least the portionof the at least one distorting feature 102 considering the particularimaging modality being used. For example, if MRI is being utilized asthe imaging modality, then undesired distortion of the magnetic fieldcan result in an undesired distortion. By comparison, if X-ray-basedimaging is the particular imaging modality being utilized, thenundesired distortion of the X-ray particles might result in an undesireddistortion. For other imaging modalities, the distortion of therespective non-optical electromagnetic or X-ray energy, waves, field,signal, etc. can provide the undesired distortion. The distorting effectof certain embodiments of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 may be at least partially man-made, while inother embodiments it may be at least partially naturally-occurring. Bothnaturally occurring and man-made embodiments of the at least the portionof the at least one distorting feature 102 can be compensated for oncethe distortion is characterized using techniques as described in thisdisclosure.

Certain embodiments of the man-made distorting feature such as animplant can, for example, be configured to be suited for use by one ormore individuals 103 such as persons or animals, and can have at leastone similar configuration(s), dimension(s), material(s), and/orelectromagnetic characteristics. Certain embodiments of the at least onedistorting feature 102 such as may be hinged, rotatable, deformable, orotherwise relatively displaceable can alter their characteristics whenthe relative position of the different portions are deflected orotherwise altered. Such movable or distortable embodiments of the atleast one distorting feature 102 should be considered based on theirparticular instantaneous condition, state, relative position, etc.Certain embodiments of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 can, for example, be formed at least partiallyfrom a ferromagnetic material, a paramagnetic material, or anothermaterial which may have an influence on the distortion. Customizedexamples of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 may be an implant for a knee or bone replacement, or ascrew, pin, and/or plate that can be surgically, scopically (e.g., withan endoscope, tracheal-scope, or other suitable scope, etc.), orotherwise inserted and/or applied to the individual 103. Certainembodiments of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 that are customized may have their electromagneticdistorting characteristics and/or features that can be digitallymaintained and/or accessed from the distortion compensator library 776that may be configured as the electronic library or database, or othermemory, data, and/or image storage, generation, or retrieval mechanism,for example.

Non-customized embodiments of the at least the portion of the at leastone distorting feature 102 may include, but are not limited to, thosefeatures that may be added to or altered within the individual 103(human, animal, or organism) such as during a surgery, scopic, research,and/or other treatment. The non-optical electromagnetic feature ofcertain non-customized embodiments of the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature 102 can be analyzed prior to, during, orafter insertion into the individual 103, and as such information can beobtained after the distorting feature has been inserted into theindividual (e.g., inter-vivos). Such data, acquired from multipleindividuals (human, animal, or organism), can be used to iterativelyalter the model of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 and improve the prediction of and compensationfor the effects of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 on the individuals.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can include apreliminary scanning of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102, such as to detect a linear and/or a regularlyrepeating aspect of a portion of the individual (human, animal, ororganism), in an effort to determine where certain man-made or naturallyoccurring embodiments of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 are positioned. With certain embodiments of thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104, the scanning can beperformed with modialities different from the one being used to imagethe patient. As an example if one is getting an MRI, the patient canhave a suplemental X-ray to determine the general position andorientation of the implant. One could thus combine modalities one foranatomic information the other for implant position. It is unlikely thatnaturally-occurring embodiments of the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature 102 would provide the same linearity aslinear man-made features. Consider that linear characteristics arerelatively uncommon in nature (e.g., most naturally-occurring featuressuch as organs, bone segments, etc. typically have some curvature, andare not precisely repeatable). Similarly, it is unlikely that naturallyoccurring embodiments of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature could provide the same regular-repeatability asman-made embodiments of the distorting feature. As such, linearityand/or degree of repeatability may be used to identify or determineposition, angle, shape, size and/or other characteristics of ones of theat least the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102 aspin(s), screw(s), implant(s), pacemaker(s), and/or other such man-madeor naturally-occurring feature may be positioned or situated. Certaintypes of detectors should be used for such location of linearity and/orrepeatability that can detect such man-made embodiments of the at leastthe portion of the at least one distorting feature 102, regardless ofthe material (e.g., whether ferromagnetic, paramagnetic, etc.). As such,certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can, utilizing avariety of the techniques as described in this disclosure, compensatefor such “interfering” non-optical electromagnetic radiation that can bereflected, projected, transmitted, and/or otherwise provided by the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102 (which maybe regularly repeating or linear).

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can utilize suchfrequency domain/time domain transform algorithms and/or inversetransform algorithms as fast Fourier transform (FFT)/Inverse FFT,Fourier Transform/Inverse Fourier Transform, etc. The application andusage of frequency domain/time domain transform algorithms and/orinverse transform algorithms are generally understood, and will not befurther described in this disclosure.

There may be a variety of techniques that may be utilized by one or moreof the embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 to computationallycompensate at least some distortion effects of the at least the portionof the at least one distorting feature 102. Certain embodiments of thedistortion compensator 100 can be configured to computationallycompensate by filtering, signal masking, signal processing, signalregeneration, and/or otherwise removal or limiting of at least somedistortion effects (considering the particular imaging modeling) whichmay be provided by the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 at least partially by computationallycompensating for the received distortion effects of the distortingfeature. By comparison, certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator 100 can be configured to computationally compensate at leastsome distortion effects of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 by determining a correction non-opticalelectromagnetic input correlating to the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature 102. A variety of the embodiments of thedistortion compensator 100 are described in this disclosure with respectto how they compensate for distortions as can be provided by the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102.

Consider certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can beconfigured to computationally compensate for at least some distortioneffects of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 at least partially by computationally compensating(redress/address, such as to subtract out) for the received distortioneffects of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102. As such, FIG. 10 shows a flow chart of certain embodimentsof distortion compensation as can be performed by a variety ofembodiments of the distortion compensator to compensate for a variety ofdistortions by subsequently computationally subtracting out the effectsof the distortion. Certain embodiments of the FIG. 10 flow chart caninclude, but are not limited to, one or more of operations 1002, 1006,and/or 1008. Certain embodiments of the flow chart compensation includescertain embodiments of operation 1002, in which the characteristics ofthe distorting feature may be determined either prior to, during, orfollowing associating the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature 102 with the individual (human, animal, or organism).Such preliminary imaging, perhaps even by the another imaging modality,may be performed, for example, to ensure the at least the portion of theat least one distorting feature 102 is installed or positioned at adesired location, as intended. Certain embodiments of thecharacteristics as set forth in operation 1002 can include, but are notlimited to, obtaining characteristics of at least one distortingfeature, in which the characteristics could include but are not lotlimited to, orientation-dependent non-optical electromagnetic imagingcharacteristic information as described in this disclosure. Certainembodiments of the associating the distorting feature with theindividual may occur, for example, by surgically applying the implantinto the individual 103. Thereupon, in certain embodiments of operation1004, can include, but are not limited to, distortion susceptibleimaging at least partially using the selected imaging techniques (e.g.,MRI, CAT scan, PET scan, etc.). In 1006, the distorting effects of theat least one distorting feature can be limited based, at least in part,on the characteristics of the distorting feature.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100, in operation1008, can compensate for the distortion resulting from the distortingfeature. Certain embodiments of the compensation may be computationallyperformed, for example, by utilizing the frequency domain/time domaintransform (e.g., Fourier transform, FFT, etc.). The particular order ofthe operations as described with respect to flow charts in thisapplication may not, depending on context, be limiting but instead maybe illustrative in nature. As such, following the computationallycompensating, either the one or more distorting feature, the one or moreportion(s) of the individual (human, animal, or organism) outside of thedistorting feature, or at least one junction between distorting featureand a portion of the individual (human, animal, or organism) shouldappear clearer such as to be less distorted. Certain embodiments of suchcompensation by certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100may occur, for example, by subtracting out (while in the frequencydomain) the effects of the distorting feature.

Certain embodiments of the subtracting out or limiting the effects ofthe distortion can thereby include, but is not limited to,computationally computing, or otherwise processing, filtering, orperforming some analog or digital operation to limit the distortion atleast partially after the image has been imaged. Other embodiments ofthe subtracting out can include, but is not limited to, deriving,obtaining, or modeling at least some input image information such as afield or signal that may be used in imaging, that when combined with thenon-optical electromagnetic radiation, MRI, X-ray, etc. as associatedwith the imaging modality (typically prior to or during imaging), canlimit the effect of the distortion by the distorting feature during theimaging. By determining how to subtract out the effects of thedistortion, the relative imaging position of the distorting feature withrespect to the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 is to beconsidered. The transformed image, with the distortion provided by thedistorting feature computationally compensated for such as with thedistortion subtracted out or otherwise computationally compensated for,can thereupon be returned to the time domain using the inverse frequencydomain/time domain transform (e.g., inverse Fourier transform, inverseFFT, etc.), to provide images, data, etc. that no longer include theaffects of the distorting feature. Certain embodiments of the distortioncompensating of at least some of the distortion of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature can utilize a pluralityof distortion compensating techniques run sequentially, in combination,in series, etc.

Certain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104can thereby be configured to nullify the effects of the distortions atleast partially as a result of removing the distortion from the imagesat least partially using the derived distortion characterizing imaginginformation and/or the input compensating information, such as may beable to be performed computationally as described in portions of thisdisclosure. Transforms, and inverse transforms, have been utilized forsuch algorithmic subtractive operations as signal separation orsubtraction, noise cancellation, etc. As such, as described in thisdisclosure, the distortion compensator controller 97 can utilize atleast a portion of a variety of hardware, software, or firmwaretechniques and mechanisms, as described in this disclosure, to performthe transform operations.

FIG. 12 shows one embodiment of the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) 104 which can limit distortion caused by certain embodimentsof the at least one distorting feature(s) 100, as described in thisdisclosure. The distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 caninclude, but is not limited to, at least one distortion susceptibleimaging device emitter 670, distortion susceptible imaging devicedetector 672, at least one computational compensator 674, and at leastone distortion limited imaging display device 676.

Certain embodiments of the at least one distortion susceptible imagingdevice emitter 670 and the at least one distortion susceptible imagingdevice detector 672 can be configured to operate similar to or as suchembodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104, such asMRI, CT, X-ray device, etc., as described in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the computational compensator 674 can beconfigured to limit distortion in images imaged by the distortionsusceptible imaging device(s) 104, resulting at least partially fromaltering the input compensating information as can effect an operationof the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 during imaging theat least one distorting feature(s) as described in this disclosure,depending on context. As such, certain embodiments of the computationalcompensator can be configured, depending on context, to computationallycompensate at least some of the distortion of the at least the portionof the at least one distorting feature from the at last one imageinformation based at least in part on the distortion characterizingimage information or input compensating information, as described inthis disclosure.

At least some of the output image information from the computationalcompensator 674 can be displayed, projected, printed, disclosed,scanned, transmitted, or otherwise output to the distortion limitedimaging display device 676. There can be a considerable variety ofembodiments of the distortion limited imager that can include, but isnot limited to, displays, projectors, computers, controllers, graphics,printers, scanners, etc., and is intended to utilize any output devicethat could be utilized by a doctor, medical assistant, or other user ofthe distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 (or a derivativetherefrom) in analyzing a condition of the individual.

Certain embodiments of the distortion limited imaging display device676, the computational compensator 674, the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) emitter 670, and/or the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) detector 672 can be integrated in the distortion compensatorcontroller 97, as described with respect to FIG. 3. Additionally,certain embodiments of the elements 670, 672, 674, and/or 676 can beautomated, controlled, filtered, utilize feedback, or processed in avariety of manners as generally understood by those skilled in signalprocessing, as well as computer or controller operations.

Certain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104,as described with respect to FIG. 12, can utilize feedback, automation,robotics, control, and/or other mechanisms such that the inputcompensating information can be modified at least partially based onsensed, derived, or indicated distortion as included in images (orinformation). As such, by modifying the input compensating informationbeing applied by the distortion susceptible imaging emitter 670, thedistortion to the non-optical electromagnetic radiation, MRI, X-ray, orother input compensating information can be limited. As such, theinformation received by the distortion susceptible imaging detector 672will likely contain less effects of distortion than if the inputcompensating information has not been at least partially removed.

Certain embodiments of the at least one detecting feature orientationdeterminer 774 can be configured, as described in this disclosure, todetermine an orientation of the at least one distorting feature(s) 100.A variety of techniques can be used to determine the orientation of theat least one distorting feature(s) 100. For instance, the personinserting or examining the at least one distorting feature(s) 100 candetermine its orientation visually. Certain imaging devices (which mayor may not be included in the distortion susceptible imaging device(s)104) can be used to determine the orientation of the at least onedistorting feature(s) 100 such as by determining how the general shapeof the at least one distorting feature(s) corresponds to its known shapesuch as may be included in the at least one the distortion compensatorlibrary 776 that may be configured as the electronic library ordatabase, or generally known by the treating person. Any mechanism ortechnique that can be used to provide information about an orientation,position, shape, wear, or other aspect of the at least one distortingfeature(s) may therefore be used as certain embodiments of the at leastone detecting feature orientation determiner 774.

In certain instances where the at least one distorting feature(s) 100can include a displaceable feature such as a cell, stem cell, targetcell, blood cell, etc.; certain embodiments of the at least onedetecting feature orientation determiner 774 can be configured, asdescribed in this disclosure, to determine the location of the at leastone distorting feature as well as its orientation. In certain instances,MRI, for example, has been shown to be able to image down to the levelof single cells. Other types of imaging technologies may be effective atimaging at smaller scales, particularly when used in combination withmicroscopic imaging devices or other microscopic devices. Certainembodiments of the single cells should have general configurations(e.g., long and narrow or a different shape with a nucleus andcytoplasm, and the length or width dimensions should be withinprescribed dimensional ranges). Such general cell configurations,shapes, dimensional ranges of certain embodiments of the distortingfeature(s) that are cells, blood cells, etc., can be included in the atleast one the distortion compensator library 776 that may be configuredas the electronic library or database, as described in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator library 776 that maybe configured as the electronic library or database can be configured tomodel the distortion of the input compensating information that mayresult at least partially from the distorting feature(s) based on theorientation of the at least one distorting feature(s). Certainembodiments of the distortion compensator library 776 that may beconfigured as the electronic library or database can include, but is notlimited to, images, image information, data or information derived fromimages or photographs, photographs, or other shape that can be used toindicate distortion(s) that may result at least partially from the atleast one distorting feature(s) based at least in part on orientation,position, shape, wear, or other aspect of the at least one distortingfeature(s) 100. Certain embodiments of the distortion compensatorlibrary 776 that may be configured as the electronic library or databasecan be at least partially included in one or more components of thedistortion compensator controller 97 as described with respect to FIG. 3(e.g., likely the memory 807 and/or the processor 803), depending oncontext.

By computationally compensating for, such as by subtracting, the effectsof the distortion of the distorting feature out using the frequencydomain/time domain transform as described with respect to FIG. 10, andother locations through this disclosure, such imaging techniques as MRI,PET scans, CAT scans, x-ray, etc. can be applied near to the at leastthe portion of the at least one distorting feature 102, while obtaininga reliable image of the area adjacent the distorting feature without thedistortion. Such imaging proximate the distorting feature may be usefulin deriving accurate images of soft tissue, bones, blood flow, junctionsbetween multiple implants and/or at least one implant and at least onetissue portion, soft tissue, bones, blood flow, etc.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator, as described withrespect to FIG. 10, can be configured to re-process at least some rawdata that can be obtained by such non-optical electromagnetic sensors orresonance detectors (e.g., as the MRI scan or X-ray). Certainembodiments of the resonance detector can thereupon be re-processed tocomputationally remove the distortion created by the induced magneticfield of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 utilized bycertain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can also beconfigured to computationally correct distortion at least partiallyresulting from modifying input compensating information being applied tothe individual (human, animal, or organism). Such embodiments of thedistortion compensator can utilize certain embodiments of feedback toreduce the effects of distortion such as by recursively filtering outundesired component(s) of the input compensating information. Certainembodiments of such compensation by the distortion compensator 100 caninvolve changing applied non-optical electromagnetic radiation or X-rayenergy (e.g., magnetic (B) field and/or the associated eddy currents forMRI, or the particles (photons) with X-ray) such as to limit suchdistortions. For instance, with MRI imaging, these magnetic fieldsdirected at least partially at distorted regions can be at leastpartially shielded and/or redirected. The applied electromagneticradiation (such as magnetic fields for MRI) can be shielded and/orredirected, such as to be applied to certain embodiments of the medicalimaging such as MRI.

FIG. 13, for example, illustrates an embodiment of the distortionsusceptible imaging device(s) 104 that can be configured tocomputationally correct distortion at least partially resulting frommodifying the input compensating information being applied to theindividual. As such, certain embodiments of the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s) 104 as described in this disclosure can include, butis not limited to, at least one distortion susceptible imaging emitter770, at least one distortion susceptible imaging detector 772, at leastone detecting feature orientation determiner 774, the distortioncompensator library 776 that may be configured as the electronic libraryor database, and at least one distortion susceptible imaging operationmodifier 778.

Certain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104,as described with respect to FIG. 13, can utilize feedback, automation,robotics, control, and/or other mechanisms such that the inputcompensating information can be modified at least partially based onsensed, derived, or indicated distortion as included in images (orinformation). As such, by modifying the input compensating informationbeing applied by the distortion susceptible imaging emitter 772, thedistortion to the non-optical electromagnetic radiation, X-ray, MRI, orother input compensating information can be limited. As such, theinformation received by the distortion susceptible imaging detector 772will likely contain less effects of distortion than if the inputcompensating information has not been at least partially removed.

Certain embodiments of the at least one detecting feature orientationdeterminer 774 can be configured, as described in this disclosure, todetermine an orientation of the at least one distorting feature(s) 100.A variety of techniques can be used to determine the orientation of theat least one distorting feature(s) 100. For instance, the personinserting or examining the at least one distorting feature(s) 100 candetermine its orientation visually. Certain imaging devices (which mayor may not be included in the distortion susceptible imaging device(s)104) can be used to determine the orientation of the at least onedistorting feature(s) 100 such as by determining how the general shapeof the at least one distorting feature(s) corresponds to its known shapesuch as may be included in the distortion compensator library 776 thatmay be configured as the electronic library or database, or generallyknown by the treating person. Any mechanism or technique that can beused to provide information about an orientation, position, shape, wear,or other aspect of the at least one distorting feature(s) may thereforebe used as certain embodiments of the at least one detecting featureorientation determiner 774.

In certain instances where the at least one distorting feature(s) 100can include a displaceable feature such as a cell, stem cell, targetcell, blood cell, etc.; certain embodiments of the at least onedetecting feature orientation determiner 774 can be configured, asdescribed in this disclosure, to determine the location of the at leastone distorting feature as well as its orientation. In certain instances,MRI, for example, has been shown to be able to image down to the levelof single cells. Other types of imaging technologies may be effective atimaging at smaller scales, particularly when used in combination withmicroscopic imaging devices or other microscopic devices. Certainembodiments of the single cells should have general configurations(e.g., long and narrow or a different shape with a nucleus andcytoplasm, and the length or width dimensions should be withinprescribed dimensional ranges). Such general cell configurations,shapes, dimensional ranges of certain embodiments of the distortingfeature(s) that are cells, blood cells, etc., can be included in thedistortion compensator library 776 that may be configured as theelectronic library or database, as described in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator library 776 that maybe configured as the electronic library or database can be configured tomodel the distortion of the input compensating information that mayresult at least partially from the distorting feature(s) based on theorientation of the at least one distorting feature(s). Certainembodiments of the distortion compensator library 776 that may beconfigured as the electronic library or database can include, but is notlimited to, images, image information, data or information derived fromimages or photographs, photographs, or other shape that can be used toindicate distortion(s) that may result at least partially from the atleast one distorting feature(s) based at least in part on orientation,position, shape, wear, or other aspect of the at least one distortingfeature(s) 100. Certain embodiments of the distortion compensatorlibrary 776 that may be configured as the electronic library or databasecan be at least partially included in one or more components of thedistortion compensator controller 97 as described with respect to FIG. 3(e.g., likely the memory 807 and/or the processor 803), depending oncontext.

Similarly, with certain X-ray-based embodiments of the distortioncompensator 100, the applied input X-ray fields, signals, etc. can bemodified to limit imaging distortion resulting at least partially fromthe at least one distorting feature 102. As such, FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of certain embodiments of distortion compensation as can beperformed by a variety of embodiments of the distortion compensator tomodify applied non-optical electromagnetic fields (e.g., MRI orelectromagnetic) such as to limit for a variety of distortions resultingfrom distorting feature. Certain embodiments of the distortioncompensation technique as described with respect to FIG. 11 can include,but is not limited to, operations 1102 and 1104. Operation 1102 couldinclude, but is not limited to, obtaining a distortion characterizingnon-optical electromagnetic imaging information of at least onedistorting feature. For example, the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature 102 such as an implant, bone, or other itemthat can be positioned or is situated relative to the individual such asa person, animal, or organism can be obtained. Operation 1104 couldinclude, but is not limited to, determining at least some correctivenon-optical electromagnetic input that can be that can be applied to theat least one distorting feature. For example, some non-opticalelectromagnetic (e.g., MRI or X-ray) signal, fields, currents,information, etc. can be applied to the individual that can at leastpartially correct the distortion.

Certain characteristics of the non-optical electromagnetic waves,currents, flows, fields, etc., as well as electromagnetic waves,currents, flows, fields, etc., may be utilized by certain embodiments ofthe distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 may be described in TheElectrical Engineering Handbook, Second Edition, Richard C. Dorf, CRCPress/IEEE Press, pp. 887-914 (1997) (incorporated herein by referencein its entirety). Certain types of the non-optical electromagneticwaves, fields, currents, etc. can be varied, weakened, intensified,directed, etc. utilizing certain shielding, shaping, and/or controllertechniques; such as are generally understood by those skilled inelectrical engineering and/or electromagnetics.

Certain embodiments of the compensation flow chart that can be utilizedby certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can therebyinclude certain embodiments of operation(s) 1102, 1104, and/or 1106. Incertain embodiments of the operation 1102, the characteristics of thedistorting feature may be determined. Such determination of thecharacteristics can be performed prior to application (e.g., insertion)of the distorting feature relative to the individual 103, or alternatelythe determination can be made following the insertion (i.e.,inter-vivos). In certain embodiments of operation 1104, the compensationmay thereby involve modifying the applied non-optical electromagneticradiation (e.g., MRI or X-ray) applied to the individual 103 at leastpartially to reduce the distortion. In certain embodiments of operation1106, which is optional, the imaging effects of the distortioncompensation may be monitored and/or reviewed to determine theeffectiveness of the compensation. Certain embodiments of theoperation(s) 1102, 1104, and/or 1106 can thereby be at least partiallyconfigured to provide a feedback mechanism, as is known to one skilledin the art in control circuitry.

Certain embodiments of the monitoring the distortion compensating may beperformed using certain embodiments of the frequency domain/time domaintransform as well as the inverse frequency domain/time domain transform,as described with respect to FIGS. 10 and/or 11. FIG. 11 thereby shows aflow chart of certain embodiments of distortion compensation as can beperformed by a variety of embodiments of the distortion compensator tocompensate for a variety of distortions as provided by the non-opticalelectromagnetic radiation. For instance, after the distortioncharacterizing imaging information that characterizes the distortion ofthe distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 (such as may bedetermined by the distortion compensator) can be determined. Thedistortion effects as characterized by the distortion characterizingimaging information can be used to derive the input compensatinginformation, which can in turn thereupon be used to nullify thedistortion by modifying the non-optical electromagnetic radiation (e.g.,magnetic field in the case of MRI, or X-ray) being applied to thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 as described in portions ofthis disclosure. Other embodiments of distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) can thereby utilize certain types of distortion compensation.

There can be a variety of mechanisms to modify non-opticalelectromagnetic radiation, such as may be applied to the individual. Inthe case of X-rays and associated particle bombardment imagingmodalities, the X-rays could have their collumnation changed, the X-raybeams or projected particles could be focused, steered, occluded, atleast partially blocked, shifted, or otherwise modified in a manner asknown to those skilled in the art. In general, certain embodiments ofthe distortion compensator can modify the X-ray embodiments of thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 by changing thedirectionality and/or energy of the X-ray based electromagneticradiation as described in this disclosure, and generally understood inthe X-ray transmission technologies. Certain embodiments of thedistortion compensator 100 can thereby be configured to modify theX-ray-based non-optical electromagnetic radiation by limiting orcontrolling that radiation applied to the at least one distortingfeature(s)

In the case of MRI and associated non-optical electromagnetic radiation,the electromagnetic field (particularly the magnetic field) could bemodified by either generating a new electromagnetic field, or steeringan old electromagnetic field. Certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator 100 can thereby be configured to modify the MRI-basednon-optical electromagnetic radiation by limiting or controlling thatradiation applied to the at least one distorting feature(s). In general,certain embodiments of the distortion compensator can modify the MRIembodiments of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 bychanging the directionality and/or energy of the MRI basedelectromagnetic radiation as described in this disclosure, and generallyunderstood in the MRI transmission technologies.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can involveimaging a portion of the individual using a rotating imaging modalitysuch as a CT scanner. Certain embodiments of the CT scanner can includerotating X-ray transmitters that are configured to provide the beamsthrough an arcuate or circular spatial region. Some of the beams, asthey hit angles at core in which there is no absorbing or diffractingmaterial, but may be occluded by the bone, etc, and thereupon may becomerefracted in such a manner as to not display the core as to cause ablind spot. The occluding material having a blind spot not being imagedcan causes an imaging distortion such as to display the occludingmaterial, but not the blind spot since X-ray beams may be deflected bythe areas of distorting feature, and thereby may not travel through tothe blind spot. Perhaps it may be desired with certain embodiments ofthe distorting compensator to create conformal blind spot, but thescatter largely is dispersed or goes away. To create such a conformalblind spot, it may be important to know where to image as to not getdistortion.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can thereby beconfigured to reduce, control, and/or limit such electromagnetic buildupas magnetization of certain embodiments of the distorting feature as aresult of stress or flexion; such as may provide distortion to imaging.The magnetic effects can thereupon be removed by a de-magnetizationprocess preceding the MRI scan using certain embodiments of thedistortion compensator 100.

Certain embodiments of such embodiments of the at least the portion ofthe at least one distorting feature 102, such as an implant or bone, canbe designed with smoothed edges or other shape characteristics tofacilitate or improve the performance of the re-processing algorithm.Such contouring or configuration of certain embodiments of thedistorting feature 102 may rely on similar materials, coatings, shapes,contours, absorbance, and/or surface features of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature 102 as generallydeveloped for and understood in stealth design for aircraft and othervehicles, which can deflect incident non-optical electromagneticradiation in a variety of directions, and/or absorb certain incidentnon-optical electromagnetic radiation.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can actually beconfigured to increase distortion applied by certain distortingfeature(s), while limiting distortion resulting from other distortingfeature(s). For example, it may be intended to limit distortion ascaused by certain implants or other distorting feature(s) as describedin this disclosure. By comparison, certain other distorting feature(s)may, depending upon the particular imaging modality, rely at leastpartially on emphasizing the location of the distorting feature byallowing or enhancing the distortion. For example, certain physicians,technicians, researchers, etc. who are searching for certain types ofcancer cells, stem cells, or blood cells, etc. may wish to emphasizetheir location by allowing or enhancing their distortions such that theycan be located or treated, at the same time they may wish to limitdistortions of other distorting features that may otherwise causedistortions around the region. Therefore, certain embodiments of the atleast one distorting feature(s) may be targeted for different types ofimaging depending on their type, size, location, orientation, as well asother similar factors.

As such, certain embodiments of the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) 104 associated with certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator 100 should be configured as to control how much compensationor emphasis to apply to types of distorting feature(s), classes ofdistorting feature(s), as well as individual distorting feature(s).

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can thereby beconfigured to obtain the signal from the distortion susceptible imagingdevice(s) 104 (e.g., MRI), which can thereupon be convolved with knownproperty of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102, based at least in part on the position and/or orientationof the distorting feature and the resultant characteristic non-opticalelectromagnetic radiation at the location of the distortion susceptibleimaging device(s), as to remove the effects of the at least the portionof the at least one distorting feature 102 on the imaging.

2. CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISTORTION COMPENSATOR CONTROLLER

This disclosure describes a number of embodiments of the distortioncompensator controller 97 as described with respect to FIG. 3, which isintended to control operations of the distortion compensator 100 to atleast partially compensate for, or limit, distortions to imagingresulting from the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature 102 as applied to individuals. As such, certain embodiments ofthe distortion compensator 100 can operate without, and/or with littleinteraction from, the distortion compensator controller 97. Bycomparison, certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 canoperate with considerable input from, and/or entirely utilizing inputfrom, the distortion compensator controller 97.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can include thedistortion compensator controller 97; while other embodiments of thedistortion compensator may not include utilizing certain embodiments ofthe distortion compensator controller. Alternatively, certainembodiments of the distortion compensator 100 may be at least partiallydigitally based, while other embodiments may be at least partiallyanalog based. For instance, certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator 100 including the distortion compensator controller 97,which are largely digital and/or microprocessor-based, can provide forlargely automated actuation of signals of the distortion compensator 100and/or the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104 (such as theMRI, CAT scan, PET scan, etc. as described in this disclosure). A numberof the components of the distortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104(such as the superconductive magnets for MRI, for example) may rely onanalog controllers and/or computers which may be capable of generatingsignals of considerable strength, such as in the Tesla range. Otherlower-powered signals from the distortion susceptible imaging device(s)104 may be either analog and/or digitally controlled. Control circuitrythat are configured to turn particular circuits on or off, for example,may be quite efficient and/or effective if digital based. Certainembodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 can beconfigured to, upon a normal operation, compensate for at least somedistortion as can be provided by the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature 102. FIG. 3 can represent a block diagramof certain respective embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 thatcan include the distortion compensator controller 97 to either controlthe securing of the elements within the distortion compensator, or someother related operations.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator, as controlled by thedistortion compensator controller, can be configured to computationallycompensate at least some of the distortion of the at least the portionof the at least one distorting feature from the at least one imageinformation based at least in part on the distortion characterizingimaging information and/or the input compensating information as basedon the at least one relative orientation of the at least one distortingfeature relative to the at least one image information. Certainembodiments of the distortion compensator, as controlled by thedistortion compensator controller, can be configured to obtain the atleast some input compensating information that when combined with the atleast one image information can limit distortions to imaging resultingfrom the at least one distorting feature, wherein the distortioncompensator is configured based at least in part on the at least onerelative orientation of the at least one distorting feature relative tothe at least one image information. These two embodiments of thedistortion compensator can also operate in combination, to further limitthe imaging distortion.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 can therebyinclude, but are not limited to, a variety of configurations of thedistortion compensator controller 97. Certain embodiments of thedistortion compensator controller 97 can also be at least partiallycomputer based, controller based, mote based, cellular telephone-based,non-optical electromagnetic based, electronic based, electromechanicalbased, and/or electronics based. Certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator controller can be segmented into modules, and can utilize avariety of wireless communications and/or networking technologies toallow information, data, etc. to be transferred to the various distinctportions or embodiments of the distortion compensator 100. Certainembodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 can beconfigured as a unitary device or a stand alone device. Certainembodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 include aninterface to allow, interaction between the compensator and theend-user, who can adjust parameters based on visual observation or otherexpert skills, to emphasize or de-emphasize different parts of the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature 102 to beeither enhanced or ignored, or to alter the strategy being taken toperform the compensation, or to contribute to the optimization ofcompensation parameters.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 can varyas to their automation, complexity, and/or sophistication; and can beutilized to control, setup, establish, and/or maintain communicationsbetween a number of communicating devices. As described within thisdisclosure, multiple ones of the different embodiments of the distortioncompensator 100 can transfer information or data relating to thecommunication link to or from a remote location and/or some intermediatedevice as might be associated with communication, monitoring and/orother activities.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97, as wellas certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 (in general),can utilize distinct firmware, hardware, and/or software technology. Forexample, mote-based technology, microprocessor-based technology,microcomputer-based technology, general-purpose computer technology,specific-purpose computer technology, Application-Specific IntegratedCircuits (ASIC), and/or a variety of other computer technologies can beutilized for certain embodiments of the distortion compensatorcontroller 97, as well as certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator 100.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 can asdescribed with respect to FIG. 3 can include depending on context aprocessor 803 such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory 807, acircuit or circuit portion 809, and an input output interface (I/O) 811that may include a bus (not shown). Certain embodiments of thedistortion compensator controller 97 of the distortion compensator 100can include and/or be a portion of a general-purpose computer, aspecific-purpose computer, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, apersonal display assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a wirelesscommunicating device, a hard-wired phone, and/or any other knownsuitable type of communications device, computer, and/or controller thatcan be implemented in hardware, software, electromechanical devices,and/or firmware. Certain embodiments of the processor 803, as describedwith respect to FIG. 3, can perform the processing and arithmeticoperations for certain embodiments of the distortion compensatorcontroller 97 of the distortion compensator 100. Certain embodiments ofthe distortion compensator controller 97 of the distortion compensator100 can control the signal processing, database querying and response,computational, timing, data transfer, and other processes associatedwith certain embodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 ofthe distortion compensator 100.

Certain embodiments of the memory 807 of the distortion compensatorcontroller 97 can include a random access memory (RAM) and/or read onlymemory (ROM) that together can store the computer programs, operands,and other parameters that control the operation of certain embodimentsof the distortion compensator controller 97 of the distortioncompensator 100. The memory 807 can be configurable to containinformation obtained, retained, or captured by that particulardistortion compensator controller 97 of the distortion compensator 100.

Certain embodiments of the bus can be configurable to provide fordigital information transmissions between the processor 803, circuits809, memory 807, I/O 811, the image memory or storage device (which maybe integrated or removable), other portions within the distortionsusceptible imaging device(s) 104, and/or other portions outside of thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104. In this disclosure, thememory 807 can be configurable as RAM, flash memory, semiconductor-basedmemory, of any other type of memory that can be configurable to storedata pertaining to images. Certain embodiments of the bus can alsoconnects I/O 811 to the portions of certain embodiments of thedistortion compensator controller 97 of either the distortioncompensator 100 that can either receive digital information from, ortransmit digital information to other portions of the distortioncompensator 100, or other systems and/or networking componentsassociated with.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 of thedistortion compensator 100, as described with respect to FIG. 3, caninclude a transmitter portion (not shown) that can be either included asa portion of certain embodiments of the distortion compensatorcontroller 97 of the distortion compensator 100. Certain embodiments ofthe distortion compensator controller 97 can alternately be provided asa separate unit (e.g., microprocessor-based). In certain embodiments,the transmitter portion can transmit image information between certainembodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 of thedistortion compensator 100.

Certain embodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 of thedistortion compensator 100 as described with respect to FIG. 3 caninclude an operation altering portion (not shown) that can be eitherincluded as a portion of certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator controller 97 of the distortion compensator 100, oralternately can be provided as a separate unit (e.g.,microprocessor-based).

Certain embodiments of the memory 807 can provide an example of a memorystorage portion. In certain embodiments, the monitored value includesbut is not limited to: a percentage of the memory 807, an indication ofdata that is or can be stored in the memory 807, or for data storage orrecording interval. To provide for overflow ability for the memory 807of certain embodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 ofthe distortion compensator 100, a secondary storage device can beoperably coupled to the memory 807 to allow a controllable transmittingof memory data from certain embodiments of the distortion compensatorcontroller 97 of the distortion compensator 100 when the monitored valueof data or other information within the memory 807 exceeds a prescribedvalue. The prescribed value can include, e.g., some percentage amount orsome actual amount of the value.

In certain embodiments, a secondary communication link can beestablished between the certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator controller 97 of the distortion compensator 100. Thesecondary communication link can be structured similar to as acommunication link, or alternatively can utilize network-based computerconnections, Internet connections, etc. to provide information and/ordata transfer between certain embodiments of the distortion compensatorcontroller 97 of the distortion compensator 100.

In certain embodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 ofthe distortion compensator 100, the particular elements of certainembodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 of thedistortion compensator 100 (e.g., the processor 803, the memory 807, thecircuits 809, and/or the I/O 811) can provide a monitoring function toconvert raw data as displayed by an indicator. A monitoring function asprovided by certain embodiments of the distortion compensator controller97 of the distortion compensator 100 can be compared to a prescribedlimit, such as whether the number of images contained in the memory 807,the amount of data contained within the memory 807, or some othermeasure relating to the memory is approaching some value. The limits tothe value can, in different embodiments, be controlled by the user orthe manufacturer of certain embodiments of the distortion compensatorcontroller 97 of the distortion compensator 100. In certain embodiments,the memory 807 can store such information as data, information,displayable information, readable text, motion images, video images,and/or audio images, etc.

In certain embodiments, the I/O 811 provides an interface to control thetransmissions of digital information between each of the components incertain embodiments of the distortion compensator controller 97 of thedistortion compensator 100. The I/O 811 also provides an interfacebetween the components of certain embodiments of the distortioncompensator controller 97 of the distortion compensator 100. Thecircuits 809 can include such other user interface devices as a displayand/or a keyboard. In other embodiments, the distortion compensatorcontroller 97 of the distortion compensator 100 can be constructed as aspecific-purpose computer such as an application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or other similardevices.

3. CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISTORTION COMPENSATOR WITH RELEVANTFLOWCHARTS

Within the disclosure, flow charts of the type described in thisdisclosure apply to method steps as performed by a computer orcontroller as could be contained within certain embodiments of thedistortion compensator 100, as described in this disclosure.Additionally, the flow charts as described in this disclosure applyoperations or procedures that can be performed entirely and/or largelyutilizing mechanical devices, electromechanical devices, or the like,such as certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 asdescribed in this disclosure. The flow charts can also apply toapparatus devices, such as an antenna or a node associated therewiththat can include, e.g., a general-purpose computer orspecialized-purpose computer whose structure along with the software,firmware, electro-mechanical devices, and/or hardware, can perform theprocess or technique described in the flow chart.

FIG. 17 shows certain embodiments of the distortion compensator 100 thatcan act to compensate for a distortion by the imaging device asdescribed with respect to FIG. 3, and elsewhere in this disclosure.There can be a variety of embodiments of the distortion compensator 100that can be configured to compensate for such inserts or implants as,but is not limited to, the surgical rod(s) or plate(s), bonereplacements, etc. as described in this disclosure. Certain of theimplants can be applied to or treat, for example, bony elements that caninclude, but are not limited to, bones, bone fragments, vertebrae,spines, etc. There can be variety of embodiments of the distortioncompensator 100.

FIG. 18 (including FIGS. 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d, and/or 18 e) showscertain embodiments of a distortion reduction technique 2000 asperformed by the distortion compensator 100 such as described withrespect to, but not limited to, FIGS. 1 to 10, and elsewhere in thisdisclosure. Certain embodiments of a high-level flowchart of thedistortion reduction technique 2000 is described with respect to FIG. 18(including FIGS. 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d, and/or 18 e) and can include,but is not limited to, operations 2002, and 2004, and/or optionaloperations 2030, 2032, 2034, 2036, 2038, 2040, 2042, 2044, 2046, 2048,2050, 2052, 2054, 2056, 2058, 2060, 2062, 2064, 2066, 2068, 2070, and/or2072. Certain embodiments of operation 2002 can include, but is notlimited to, operations 2010, 2012, and/or 2014. Certain embodiments ofoperation 2004 can include, but is not limited to, operations 2020and/or 2022. The high-level flowchart of the distortion reductiontechnique 2000 of FIG. 18 (including FIGS. 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d,and/or 18 e) should be considered in combination with the embodiments ofthe distortion compensator 100, as described with respect to FIG. 17,and elsewhere in this disclosure. The order of the operations, methods,mechanisms, etc. as described with respect to the distortion reductiontechnique 2000 of FIG. 18 (including FIGS. 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d,and/or 18 e) should be considered to be illustrative in nature, and notlimited in scope.

Certain embodiments of operation 2002 can include, but is not limitedto: obtaining at least some input compensating information that ischaracterized, at least in part, by at least one relative orientation ofat least a portion of an at least one distorting feature associated withan at least a portion of an individual. For example, certain inputcompensating information can be obtained such as by capturing,photographing, imaging, retrieving from a memory of data storage device,receiving from a remote device, etc. Certain embodiments ofcharacterizing of the distortion characterizing imaging information cancharacterize the at least one distorting feature based, at least inpart, on a position or angle of the at least one distorting feature,relative angles of multiple ones of the at least one distorting feature,relative surface contours of the at least one distorting feature,relative shape of the at least one distorting feature, material(s) ofthe at least one distorting feature, etc. Certain embodiments of theimage information can be obtained utilizing a variety of imagingtechnologies that can include, but are not limited to, magneticresonance imaging (MRI), X-ray Computed Tomography (CT or CAT), X-rayimaging (fluoroscopy), Photon Emission Tomography (PET) scans, SinglePhoton Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) scans, as well as othernon-optical electromagnetic imaging, etc. In certain instances, adistinct imaging technique can be utilized which is not susceptible tothe distortions of the primary imaging technique to determine therelative orientation. For instance, X-ray imaging that is not assusceptible to distortions from imaging ferromagnetic material image maybe used to image the at least one distorting feature to determine therelative orientation, and the relative orientation may be used insubsequent MRI imaging to limit the distortions during MRI.

Certain embodiments of operation 2004 can include, but is not limitedto: responsive to the at least some input compensating information,imaging the at least the portion of the individual in a manner to limitat least some distorting effects of the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature associated with the at least the portion ofthe individual at least partially by modifying a non-opticalelectromagnetic output from an imaging modality as applied to the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature associated withthe at least the portion of the individual. For example, at least aportion of the portion of the individual can imaged (at least partiallyinternally and/or at least partially externally) in a manner to limit atleast some distorting effects of the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature associated with the at least the portion ofthe individual. The imaging can be performed, depending on context, bymodifying the non-optical electromagnetic output from the imagingmodality as applied to the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature associated with the at least the portion of theindividual. Certain embodiments of the imaging modality can involvenon-optical electromagnetic imaging, X-ray based imaging, etc., asdescribed in this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of the obtaining at least some input compensatinginformation that is characterized, at least in part, by at least onerelative orientation of at least a portion of an at least one distortingfeature associated with an at least a portion of an individual ofoperation 2002 can include operation 2010, that can include, but is notlimited to: obtaining at least some input time domain/frequency domaintransform compensating information that is characterized, at least inpart, by the at least one relative orientation of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature associated with the atleast the portion of the individual. For example, certain embodiments ofthe at least some input compensating information can be obtained by atechnique including, but not limited to, at least some input timedomain/frequency domain transform compensating information (e.g.,Fourier Transform, Fast Fourier Transform, etc.), as described in thisdisclosure. Certain embodiments of operation 2002 can include operation2012, that can include, but is not limited to: obtaining at least someMaxwell solver compensating information that is characterized, at leastin part, by the at least one relative orientation of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature associated with the atleast the portion of the individual. For example, certain embodiments ofthe at least some input compensating information can be obtained atleast partially using Maxwell solvers, as described in this disclosure.Certain embodiments of operation 2002 can include operation 2014, thatcan include, but is not limited to: obtaining at least some particletracker compensating information that is characterized, at least inpart, by the at least one relative orientation of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature associated with the atleast the portion of the individual. For example, certain embodiments ofthe at least some input compensating information can be obtained atleast partially using particle tracker techniques.

Certain embodiments of the responsive to the at least some inputcompensating information, imaging the at least the portion of theindividual in a manner to limit at least some distorting effects of theat least the portion of the at least one distorting feature associatedwith the at least the portion of the individual at least partially bymodifying a non-optical electromagnetic output from an imaging modalityas applied to the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature associated with the at least the portion of the individual ofoperation 2004 can include operation 2020, that can include but is notlimited to: imaging the at least the portion of the individual in themanner to limit the at least some distorting effects of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature associated with the atleast the portion of the individual at least partially by the modifyingthe output from an MRI-based imaging modality as applied to the at leastthe portion of the at least one distorting feature associated with theat least the portion of the individual. For example, certain embodimentsof the imaging the at least the portion of the individual can beperformed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—based imagingmodalities or techniques, as described in this disclosure. Certainembodiments of operation 2004 can include operation 2022, that caninclude but is not limited to: imaging the at least the portion of theindividual in the manner to limit the at least some distorting effectsof the at least the portion of the at least one distorting featureassociated with the at least the portion of the individual at leastpartially by the modifying the output from an X-ray based imagingmodality as applied to the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature associated with the at least the portion of theindividual. For example, certain embodiments of the imaging the at leastthe portion of the individual can be performed using X-ray—based imagingmodalities or techniques, as described in this disclosure. Certainembodiments of operation 2030 can include, but is not limited to:wherein the at least one relative orientation of the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature is obtained relative toan imaging area. For example, wherein the relative orientation is takenaccording to an absolute reference coordinate system, such as where theorientation is determined relative to the imaging area of the distortionsusceptible imaging device. Certain embodiments of operation 2032 caninclude, but is not limited to: wherein the at least one relativeorientation of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature is obtained according to an absolute reference. For example,wherein the relative orientation is taken according to an absolutereference coordinate system, such as where the orientation is determinedrelative to the individual or the Earth. Certain embodiments ofoperation 2034 can include, but is not limited to: predicting the atleast some input compensating information based at least in part on anorientation of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature. For example, predicting at least some aspect of the at leastsome input compensating information based on the orientation of the atleast one distorting feature(s), as described in this disclosure.Certain embodiments of operation 2036 can include, but is not limitedto: predicting the at least some input compensating information based atleast in part on a position of the at least the portion of the at leastone distorting feature. For example, predicting at least some aspect ofthe at least some input compensating information based on the positionof the at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature(s)(which may be a unitary distorting feature or a complex distortingfeature), as described in this disclosure. Certain embodiments ofoperation 2038 can include, but is not limited to: predicting the atleast some input compensating information based at least in part on anangle of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature. For example, predicting at least some aspect of the at leastsome input compensating information based on the angle of the at leastthe portion of the at least one distorting feature(s) (which may be aunitary distorting feature or a complex distorting feature), asdescribed in this disclosure. Certain embodiments of operation 2040 caninclude, but is not limited to: predicting the at least some inputcompensating information based at least in part on a surface or materialcharacteristic of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature. For example, predicting at least some aspect of theat least some input compensating information based on the surface ormaterial characteristic of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature(s) (which may be a unitary distorting feature or acomplex distorting feature), as described in this disclosure. Certainembodiments of operation 2042 can include, but is not limited to:predicting the at least some input compensating information based atleast in part on a degrading environment which the at least the portionof the at least one distorting feature has been exposed. For example,For example, predicting at least some aspect of the at least some inputcompensating information based on the degrading environment which the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature(s) (which maybe a unitary distorting feature or a complex distorting feature) hasbeen exposed, as described in this disclosure. Certain embodiments ofoperation 2044 can include, but is not limited to: predicting the atleast some input compensating information based at least in part on aduration which the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature has been exposed to a degrading environment. For example,predicting at least some aspect of the at least some input compensatinginformation based on the duration which the at least the portion of theat least one distorting feature(s) (which may be a unitary distortingfeature or a complex distorting feature) has been exposed to theenvironment, as described in this disclosure. Certain embodiments ofoperation 2046 can include, but is not limited to: predicting the atleast some input compensating information based at least in part on atleast one other element which the at least the portion of the at leastone distorting feature at least partially contacts. For example, the atleast some input compensating information can be predicted based atleast in part on the part of the at least one other element (which candiffer from the distorting feature) which the at least one distortingfeature contacts, as described in this disclosure. Certain embodimentsof operation 2048 can include, but is not limited to: establishing alibrary of the at least some input compensating information associatedwith at least some of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature. For example, a library can be established to includethe at least some input compensating information based on suchinformation as the orientation of the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature. Certain embodiments of operation 2050 caninclude, but is not limited to: modifying the at least some inputcompensating information associated with at least some of the at leastthe portion of the at least one distorting feature. For example,modifying the at least some input compensating information. Certainembodiments of operation 2052 can include, but is not limited to:associating the at least some input compensating information with atleast one image information. For example, the at least some inputcompensating information can become associated with at least one imageinformation. Certain embodiments of operation 2054 can include, but isnot limited to: modifying a non-optical electromagnetic field at leastpartially generated utilizing the at least some input compensatinginformation in a dynamic fashion. For example, the non-opticalelectromagnetic field can become modified at least partially using theat least some input compensating information in a dynamic fashion.Certain embodiments of operation 2056 can include, but is not limitedto: filtering a distortion at least partially resulting from the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature at leastpartially based upon the at least some input compensating information.For example, certain distortive effects cn be at least partically basedon the at least some input compensating information. Certain embodimentsof operation 2058 can include, but is not limited to: filtering out adistortion at least partially resulting from the at least the portion ofthe at least one distorting feature at least partially based upon the atleast some input compensating information. For example, filtering out adistortive effect, such that the at least some input compensatinginformation can provide a less distorting effect when imaging the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature. Certainembodiments of operation 2060 can include, but is not limited to:filtering out a distortion at least partially resulting from the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature at leastpartially based upon the at least some input compensating information tolimit at least some effects of the distortion on imaging of the at leastthe portion of the at least one distorting feature. For example,filtering out the distortion such as when the at least the portion ofthe individual that is associated with the distorting feature is imaged,the distortion can be diminished. Certain embodiments of operation 2062can include, but is not limited to: filtering out a distortion at leastpartially resulting from the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature at least partially based upon the at least some inputcompensating information to limit at least some effects of thedistortion on imaging of the at least the portion of the individual. Forexample, filtering out the distortion such as when the at least theportion of the individual that is associated with the distorting featureis imaged, the distortion can be diminished. Certain embodiments ofoperation 2064 can include, but is not limited to: observing aninterface between one or more surfaces of the at least the portion ofthe at least one distorting feature and the at least the portion of theindividual. For example, observing the interface between the one or moresurfaces of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature and the at least the portion of the individual, such as may beenhanced as described in this disclosure if the distortion is limited.Certain embodiments of operation 2066 can include, but is not limitedto: observing an interface between two or more surfaces of at least oneof the at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature. Forexample, more clearly observing an interface between multiple surfacesof the at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature,which may be enhanced as described in this disclosure by limiting thedistortion. Certain embodiments of operation 2068 can include, but isnot limited to: altering a non-optical electromagnetic, magnetic, orX-ray effect as applied in proximity to the at least the portion of theat least one distorting feature at least partially in response to the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature. For example,altering the non-optical electromagnetic, magnetic, or X-ray effect suchas may result if the distortion is limited. Certain embodiments ofoperation 2070 can include, but is not limited to: wherein obtaining atleast one image information can be at least partially obtained byimaging the at least the portion of the individual. For example,obtaining the at least one image information at least partially bylimiting the distortion, as described in this disclosure. Certainembodiments of operation 2072 can include, but is not limited to:wherein obtaining at least one image information can be at leastpartially obtained by imaging the at least the portion of theindividual, and wherein the individual can include at least one from ahuman, an animal, an organism, a medical patient, or a dental patient.For example, obtaining the at least one image information at leastpartially by limiting the distortion, as described in this disclosure.Additionally, the individual can include at least one from a human, ananimal, an organism, a medical patient, or a dental patient, etc. Theorder of the operations, methods, mechanisms, etc. as described withrespect to FIG. 18 (including FIGS. 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d, and 18 e)can relate to filtering or filtering out the distortion at leastpartially resulting from the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature from the at least one image information to improve adisplay of the at least the portion of the least one distorting isintended to be illustrative in nature, and not limited in scope.

FIG. 20 shows certain embodiments of a distortion reduction technique2100 as performed by the distortion compensator 100 such as describedwith respect to, but not limited to, FIGS. 1 to 10, and elsewhere inthis disclosure. Certain embodiments of a high-level flowchart of thedistortion reduction technique 2100 is described with respect to FIG. 20and can include, but is not limited to, operations 2102, and/or optionaloperations 2110, 2112, and/or 2114. The high-level flowchart of thedistortion reduction technique 2100 of FIG. 20 should be considered incombination with the embodiments of the distortion compensator 100, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 19, and elsewhere in this disclosure.Certain embodiments of operation 2102 can include, but is not limitedto: creating at least one conformal absence of a non-opticalelectromagnetic output to limit distortion to an imaging of an at leasta portion of an individual resulting at least partially from at leastone distorting feature associated with the at least the portion of theindividual. For example, certain embodiments of the at least onedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104, as described in thisdisclosure, can create the at least one conformal absence of thenon-optical electromagnetic output to limit distortion to an imaging ofthe at least the portion of the individual. In certain embodiments, theat least one conformal absence of the non-optical electromagnetic outputcan be associated with the imaging process of the at least the portionof the individual, as described in this disclosure. Certain embodimentsof operation 2110 can include, but are not limited to, wherein theimaging of the at least the portion of the individual is MRI-based. Forexample, certain embodiments of the non-optical electromagnetic outputcan rely at least in part on MRI-based imaging, such as with a varietyof nuclear magnetic resonance imaging technologies such as MRI, asdescribed in this disclosure. Certain embodiments of operation 2112 caninclude, but are not limited to, wherein the imaging of the at least theportion of the individual is X-ray based. For example, certainembodiments of the non-optical electromagnetic output can rely at leastin part on X-ray based imaging, such as with a variety of X-ray basedimaging technologies such as CAT scanning, X-ray backscatter imaging,fluorescent (transmissive) X-ray imaging, etc., as described in thisdisclosure. Certain embodiments of operation 2114 can include, but arenot limited to, wherein the imaging of the at least the portion of theindividual is particle bombardment based. For example, certainembodiments of the non-optical electromagnetic output can rely at leastin part on particle bombardment imaging technologies such as X-ray basedimaging, etc., as described in this disclosure. The order of theoperations, methods, mechanisms, etc. as described with respect to FIG.20 can relate to filtering or filtering out the distortion at leastpartially resulting from the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature from the at least one image information to improve adisplay of the at least the portion of the least one distorting isintended to be illustrative in nature, and not limited in scope.

FIG. 22 shows certain embodiments of a distortion reduction technique2200 as performed by the distortion compensator 100 such as describedwith respect to, but not limited to, FIGS. 1 to 10, and elsewhere inthis disclosure. Certain embodiments of a high-level flowchart of thedistortion reduction technique 2200 is described with respect to FIG. 22and can include, but is not limited to, operations 2202, and/or optionaloperations 2210, 2212, and/or 2214. The high-level flowchart of thedistortion reduction technique 2200 of FIG. 22 should be considered incombination with the embodiments of the distortion compensator 100, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 21, and elsewhere in this disclosure.Certain embodiments of operation 2202 can include, but is not limitedto: identifying a relative orientation of an at least a portion of an atleast one distorting feature associated with at least a portion of anindividual, wherein the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature can be characterized such as be based at least inpart on a distortion characterizing imaging information whosecharacterizing can vary, at least in part, based on the relativeorientation of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature. For example, certain embodiments of the relative orientation ofthe at least the portion of the at lest the portion of the at least onedistorting feature can be determined, such as the relative angle, therelative position, the surface or material characteristics, the shape,etc. of the at least one distorting feature(s), multiple distortingfeature(s), complex distorting feature(s), etc. can be obtained asdescribed in this disclosure. Such obtaining can include, but is notlimited to, recalling from stroed memory, imaging, photographing,determining the shape and/or material, etc. In certain instances, adistinct imaging technique can be utilized which is not susceptible tothe distortions of the primary imaging technique to determine therelative orientation. For instance, X-ray imaging that is not assusceptible to distortions from imaging ferromagnetic material image maybe used to image the at least one distorting feature to determine therelative orientation, and the relative orientation may be used insubsequent MRI imaging to limit the distortions during MRI. Certainembodiments of operation 2204 can include, but is not limited to:retrieving an at least some input compensating information at leastpartially in response to the distortion characterizing imaginginformation, wherein the input compensating information, when applied toan imaging modality, can limit distortions to the at least the portionof the at least one image information resulting from the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature. For example, certainembodiments of the input compensating information that can be used tomodify non-optical electromagnetic radiation during imaging may be atleast partially derived from the distortion characterizing imageinformation, as described in this disclosure. Certain embodiments ofoperation 2206 can include, but is not limited to: adjusting imaging atleast partially by the imaging modality of the at least a portion of anindividual which the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature is associated with at least partially in response to theretrieving the at least some input compensating information. Forexample, certain embodiments of the imaging modality (e.g., of thedistortion susceptible imaging device(s) 104) can be adjusted ormodified at least partially in response to the retrieving the at leastsome input compensating information as described in this disclosure.Certain embodiments of operation 2210 can include, but are not limitedto, wherein the imaging modality is MRI-based. For example, certainembodiments of the non-optical electromagnetic output can rely at leastin part on MRI-based imaging, such as with a variety of nuclear magneticresonance imaging technologies such as MRI, as described in thisdisclosure. Certain embodiments of operation 2212 can include, but arenot limited to, wherein the imaging modality is X-ray based. Forexample, certain embodiments of the non-optical electromagnetic outputcan rely at least in part on X-ray based imaging, such as with a varietyof X-ray based imaging technologies such as CAT scanning, X-raybackscatter imaging, fluorescent (transmissive) X-ray imaging, etc., asdescribed in this disclosure. Certain embodiments of operation 2214 caninclude, but are not limited to, wherein the imaging modality isparticle bombardment based. For example, certain embodiments of thenon-optical electromagnetic output can rely at least in part on particlebombardment imaging technologies such as X-ray based imaging, etc., asdescribed in this disclosure. The order of the operations, methods,mechanisms, etc. as described with respect to FIG. 22 can relate tofiltering or filtering out the distortion at least partially resultingfrom the at least the portion of the at least one distorting featurefrom the at least one image information to improve a display of the atleast the portion of the least one distorting is intended to beillustrative in nature, and not limited in scope.

The exemplary system, apparatus, and computer program productembodiments disclosed herein including respective FIGS. 17, 19, and 21along with other components, devices, know-how, skill and techniquesthat are known in the art have the capability of implementing andpracticing the methods and processes shown in respective FIGS. 18(including FIGS. 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d, and 18 e), 20, and 22 asdescribed in this disclosure. However it is to be further understood bythose skilled in the art that other systems, apparatus and technologymay be used to implement and practice such methods and processes. Thoseskilled in the art will also recognize that the various aspects of theembodiments for methods, processes, products, and systems as describedherein can be implemented individually and/or collectively by a widerange of hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.

In one or more various aspects, related systems include but are notlimited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting theherein-referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming canbe virtually any combination of hardware, software, electro-mechanicalsystem, and/or firmware configurable to effect the herein-referencedmethod aspects depending upon the design choices of the system designer.

4. CONCLUSION

This disclosure provides a number of embodiments of the distortioncompensator. The embodiments of the distortion compensator as describedwith respect to this disclosure are intended to be illustrative innature, and are not limiting its scope.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the artin computer, controller, communications, networking, and other similartechnologies has progressed to the point where there is littledistinction left between hardware, firmware, and/or softwareimplementations of aspects of systems, such as may be utilized in thedistortion compensator. The use of hardware, firmware, and/or softwarecan therefore generally represent (but not always, in that in certaincontexts the choice between hardware and software can becomesignificant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs.Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are variousvehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologiesdescribed herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/orfirmware), and that the preferred vehicle can vary with the context inwhich the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies aredeployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed andaccuracy are paramount, the implementer and/or designer of thedistortion compensator may opt for mainly a hardware and/or firmwarevehicle. In alternate embodiments, if flexibility is paramount, theimplementer and/or designer may opt for mainly a softwareimplementation. In yet other embodiments, the implementer and/ordesigner may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and/orfirmware. Hence, there are several possible techniques by which theprocesses and/or devices and/or other technologies described herein maybe effected, none of which is inherently superior to the other in thatany vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependent upon the context inwhich the vehicle can be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g.,speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any of whichmay vary.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In Certain embodiments,several portions of the subject matter described herein may beimplemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSP's), orother integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in standard integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearingmedia used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signalbearing media include, but are not limited to, the following: recordabletype media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD ROMs, digitaltape, and computer memory; and transmission type media such as digitaland analog communication links using TDM or IP based communication links(e.g., packet links).

All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications,U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applicationsand non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/orlisted in any Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein byreference, in their entireties.

It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that, in general, theterms used in the disclosure, including the drawings and the appendedclaims (and especially as used in the bodies of the appended claims),are generally intended as “open” terms. For example, the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to”; theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least”; and the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to”;etc. In this disclosure and the appended claims, the terms “a”, “the”,and “at least one” positioned prior to one or more goods, items, and/orservices are intended to apply inclusively to either one or a pluralityof those goods, items, and/or services.

Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C”would include but not be limited to systems that could have A alone, Balone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together,and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems thatcould have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and Ctogether, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the herein-describedspecific exemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies arerepresentative of more general processes and/or devices and/ortechnologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filedherewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, otheraspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes ofillustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scopeand spirit being indicated by the following claims.

1. A method, comprising: obtaining at least some input compensatinginformation that is characterized, at least in part, by at least onerelative orientation of at least a portion of an at least one distortingfeature associated with an at least a portion of an individual; andresponsive to the at least some input compensating information, imagingthe at least the portion of the individual in a manner to limit at leastsome distorting effects of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature associated with the at least the portion of theindividual at least partially by modifying a non-optical electromagneticoutput from an imaging modality as applied to the at least the portionof the at least one distorting feature associated with the at least theportion of the individual.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theobtaining at least some input compensating information that ischaracterized, at least in part, by at least one relative orientation ofat least a portion of an at least one distorting feature associated withan at least a portion of an individual comprises: obtaining at leastsome input time domain/frequency domain transform compensatinginformation that is characterized, at least in part, by the at least onerelative orientation of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature associated with the at least the portion of theindividual.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining at leastsome input compensating information that is characterized, at least inpart, by at least one relative orientation of at least a portion of anat least one distorting feature associated with an at least a portion ofan individual comprises: obtaining at least some Maxwell solvercompensating information that is characterized, at least in part, by theat least one relative orientation of the at least the portion of the atleast one distorting feature associated with the at least the portion ofthe individual.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theresponsive to the at least some input compensating information, imagingthe at least the portion of the individual in a manner to limit at leastsome distorting effects of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature associated with the at least the portion of theindividual at least partially by modifying a non-optical electromagneticoutput from an imaging modality as applied to the at least the portionof the at least one distorting feature associated with the at least theportion of the individual comprises: imaging the at least the portion ofthe individual in the manner to limit the at least some distortingeffects of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature associated with the at least the portion of the individual atleast partially by the modifying the output from an MRI-based imagingmodality and/or X-Ray based imaging modality as applied to the at leastthe portion of the at least one distorting feature associated with theat least the portion of the individual.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one relative orientation of the at leastthe portion of the at least one distorting feature is obtained relativeto an imaging area.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least onerelative orientation of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature is obtained according to an absolute reference. 9.The method of claim 1, further comprising: predicting the at least someinput compensating information based at least in part on an orientationof the at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature. 10.The method of claim 1, further comprising: predicting the at least someinput compensating information based at least in part on a position ofthe at least the portion of the at least one distorting feature.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: predicting the at least someinput compensating information based at least in part on an angle of theat least the portion of the at least one distorting feature.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: predicting the at least someinput compensating information based at least in part on a surface ormaterial characteristic of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature.
 13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:predicting the at least some input compensating information based atleast in part on a degrading environment which the at least the portionof the at least one distorting feature has been exposed.
 14. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: predicting the at least some inputcompensating information based at least in part on a duration which theat least the portion of the at least one distorting feature has beenexposed to a degrading environment.
 15. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: predicting the at least some input compensating informationbased at least in part on at least one other element which the at leastthe portion of the at least one distorting feature at least partiallycontacts.
 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising: establishing alibrary of the at least some input compensating information associatedwith at least some of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature.
 17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:modifying the at least some input compensating information associatedwith at least some of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature.
 18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:associating the at least some input compensating information with atleast one image information.
 19. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: modifying a non-optical electromagnetic field at leastpartially generated utilizing the at least some input compensatinginformation in a dynamic fashion.
 20. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: filtering a distortion at least partially resulting from theat least the portion of the at least one distorting feature at leastpartially based upon the at least some input compensating information.21. The method of claim 1, further comprising: filtering out adistortion at least partially resulting from the at least the portion ofthe at least one distorting feature at least partially based upon the atleast some input compensating information.
 22. The method of claim 1,further comprising: filtering out a distortion at least partiallyresulting from the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature at least partially based upon the at least some inputcompensating information to limit at least some effects of thedistortion on imaging of the at least the portion of the at least onedistorting feature.
 23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:filtering out a distortion at least partially resulting from the atleast the portion of the at least one distorting feature at leastpartially based upon the at least some input compensating information tolimit at least some effects of the distortion on imaging of the at leastthe portion of the individual.
 24. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: observing an interface between one or more surfaces of theat least the portion of the at least one distorting feature and the atleast the portion of the individual.
 25. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: observing an interface between two or more surfaces of atleast one of the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature.
 26. The method of claim 1, further comprising: altering anon-optical electromagnetic, magnetic, or X-ray effect as applied inproximity to the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature at least partially in response to the at least the portion ofthe at least one distorting feature.
 27. The method of claim 1, whereinobtaining at least one image information can be at least partiallyobtained by imaging the at least the portion of the individual.
 28. Themethod of claim 1, wherein obtaining at least one image information canbe at least partially obtained by imaging the at least the portion ofthe individual, and wherein the individual can include at least one froma human, an animal, an organism, a medical patient, or a dental patient.29. An apparatus, comprising: an obtaining portion configurable toobtain at least some input compensating information that ischaracterized, at least in part, by at least one relative orientation ofat least a portion of an at least one distorting feature associated withan at least a portion of an individual; and a distortion compensatorthat is configurable to, responsively to the at least some inputcompensating information, image the at least the portion of theindividual in a manner to limit at least some distorting effects of theat least the portion of the at least one distorting feature associatedwith the at least the portion of the individual at least partially bymodifying a non-optical electromagnetic output from an imaging modalityas applied to the at least the portion of the at least one distortingfeature associated with the at least the portion of the individual. 30.The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the distortion compensator can beconfigured to obtain the at least some input compensating informationthat can limit distortions to imaging resulting from the at least theportion of the at least one distorting feature as applied to imaging theindividual, wherein the individual can include at least one of a person,an animal, or an organism.
 31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein thedistortion compensator can be configured to temporally detect a changein a distortion.
 32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the distortioncompensator can be configured to operate automatically.
 33. Theapparatus of claim 29, wherein the imaging modality is MRI-based. 34.The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the imaging modality is X-ray based.35. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the imaging modality is particlebombardment based.
 36. A system, comprising: means for obtaining atleast some input compensating information that is characterized, atleast in part, by at least one relative orientation of at least aportion of an at least one distorting feature associated with an atleast a portion of an individual; and means for imaging a regioninternal to the individual in a manner to limit at least some distortingeffects of the at least one distorting feature associated with the atleast the portion of the individual at least partially by modifying anon-optical electromagnetic output from an imaging modality as appliedto the at least the portion of the at least one distorting featureassociated with the at least the portion of the individual, wherein themeans for imaging the region are configured to operate responsively tothe means for obtaining the at least some input compensatinginformation.
 37. The system of claim 36, wherein the means for imaging aregion internal to the individual is MRI-based.
 38. The system of claim36, wherein the means for imaging a region internal to the individual isX-ray based.
 39. The system of claim 36, wherein the means for imaging aregion internal to the individual is particle bombardment based.
 40. Thesystem of claim 36, wherein the means for obtaining at least some inputcompensating information includes a first means for imaging the regioninternal to the individual, and the means for imaging the regioninternal to the individual comprises a second means for imaging theregion internal to the individual.
 41. (canceled) 42.-49. (canceled)